I started gardens of the moon from your recommendation and I am surprised by how invested I am, 70% through the book and its only getting better and better
People kept telling me it's hard and you need to concentrate and you need to make notes to fully enjoy the series, nope I have been listening to ten very big books podcast alongside the book and I don't feel that lost
I just finished Gardens of the Moon recently and absolutely LOVED it! I also heard it was so confusing, but whilst I concentrated on it, I didn't feel the need to take notes etc. I did immersion-read it alongside the audiobook and it was a fun experience and I haven't laughed out loud reading a book for ages, so an extra gold star! 🌟 Am really looking forward to experiencing the rest of the series 🙂📚⚔
@@atomicbaby-w4e As much as I enjoyed the Gardens of the Moon, it has left me with an enormous book-hangover however. Having trouble connecting with any other books right now 😅 📚
I think Red Rising is another series worth trying beyond the first book - I thought book one was fine, but honestly might not have continued without all the people saying how much better the series gets! So glad I did now!
@PetrikLeo That author needs money. Hopefully, Grim Oak or Marrick or Wraithmarked or broken binding can make a special edition to help with medical costs. See new south park special to see how bad America Healthcare system is.
Brian Lee Durfee’s trilogy is excellent and well worth pushing through the first book as the second is such an improvement even though the Forgetting Moon is still a good read. The Paternus trilogy is also excellent. Reminiscent of American Gods but truly epic in scope.
I clicked knowing you'd discuss Sun Eater. I am currently in the middle of it and it is RAMPING up. I am getting so invested in the world. The beginning was slow, but definitely not a bad slow. It's just taking time for me to get used to.
I’m so glad you included First Law because I am currently reading the first book and it put me into a reading slump at first. Honestly listening to the audiobook saved it for me because omg the narrator is actually amazing and made me love parts of the book I was ehh about. Good to know it gets better from here!
Have been wanting to get to The Warlord Chronicles so good to know about the first book. Also, have The Three Body Problem on my TBR. I like the fact that you indicated it’s less character driven. I don’t mind that because I like sci fi that focuses on ideas. Will also get to The Suneater series so appreciate the heads up about that too. My TBR is like a mile high!
if you don't mind a less character-driven narrative, I think 3-Body Problem will be a big hit. Enjoy! I'm in the middle of watching the show right now! :)
@@PetrikLeo thanks Petrik, haven’t started the show since I think I’ll read the books first. Watching Dark Matter (sci fi) by Blake Crouch at the moment.
Thank you so much for this video. I was reading the forgetting moon and the empire of silence. But couldn't get completely into it. Thanks for this motivation to keep going. New subscriber here😀
I recently finished The Lesser Devil in the Sun Eater series and I really liked it even though I didn’t think I would enjoy anything with Crispin as a character 😊
I did not know you are a fan of Bernard Cornwall! Excellent! I’ve been reading him for decades. But even you cannot get me to continue with Cixin Liu. My brain hurts just thinking about it! Love the shirt! Love Bleach so much!
Thank you so much! And yeah, I'm a fan of Bernard Cornwell's books. Warlord Chronicles is still my favorite, though. I have read The Last Kingdom and I think it's too long for its own good. That's fair on Cixin Liu's books. Many moments in Death's End definitely went over my head. I need to reread the series! :)
I loooove The Blade Itself ❤ and Forgetting Moon 🙌🏼 Sun Eater in August 🎉 Three Body is in my library but not in the queue yet... I own Paternus, bumping it up the list 🙌🏼 it doesn't look urban from the cover so I've left it out 😬 THANKS 🙌🏼
@@PetrikLeo I'm the weirdo whose favorite Abercrombie is Red Country 🤪 He and Rothfus were the first fantasy books i read after a 20 year hiatus. That was 800 books ago 🤪
I don’t understand the dislike that even people that like the series have for “Empire of Silence”. I thought it was phenomenal and i was in love with the series from the very beginning.
These types of videos are sooo useful, thanks for putting it together friend! I can't wait to dig into Sun Eater and Heartstrikers. I read my first Rachel Aaron (Hell For Hire) recently and I now want to read anything and everything she has ever written! Soooo fun 🤩
I dropped Howling Dark within the first hundred pages, sounds like I may have to go back one last time to see if it sticks. Empire of Silence wasn't bad by any means, but there were far too many references to how significant and epic subsequent events would be without actually delivering much in the current book. This coupled with a rather flat, low stakes ending just didn't quite sell me on the series. If the consensus is to stick with it into the second act of Howling Dark though, ill have to go back.
Thanks for mentioning Heartstrikers! So good and unexpected, especially from book 3 onwards. More people should read it. However l would say the other DFZ books are ok but not as good. But her epic fantasy series Legend of Eli Monpress is a fun light read with interesting ideas, similar to Heartstrikers in that sense. In terms of other series, the first thing that came to mind when l saw the video title was Cradle actually... Unsouled only started to pick up for me towards the end of the book. But from then on it was so addictive and l blew through all the rest of the available books...
You're welcome on Heartstrikers! I still haven't read DFZ yet. I heard great things about it, though. Same as Eli Monpress. I'm so behind on her books. Need to fix that! 😄 I mentioned Cradle in the first episode of this series of videos! Definitely fitting!
This year I started reading both Erikson and Abercrombie for the 1st time and loved them both! Both The Blade Itself and Gardens of the Moon are supposed to be the weakest of these series and I fell in love with both, so I'm excited to read the rest! Still waiting for my order of Three Body Problem to show up, taking way too long.
That's absolutely true on both accounts, imo. Well, they are not the weakest but one of the weakest of the series. Blade Itself is one of my favorite books! I think you will love the rest of these two series!
Awesome Video Petrik. Will start the Sun Eater series after Im up to date with the Bound and the Broken haha. 2/3 novella, 1 novel and 1 novella to go.. haha in that order 😉
I agree with most of theses some not read so not all but the faithful and the fallen I didn't get the hook set in me until the 2nd novel but once it set I couldn't get through what is there fast enough not sure anyone but me has felt like this but so worth it
I completely agree with you! I love the Soul Society Arc the most in Bleach. As for the rest, I felt mixed about them. There were times when I was obsessed with Bleach as one of the big three of manga. I still think the series should've ended after they defeated Aizen, though. :)
I can respect the First Law series for what it is but it is one of the only series I've ever read where, upon completion, I was just confused at why I finished it. It has it's own style and if doesn't mesh for you early on, don't bother continuing as it doesn't really change going forward.
I think it depends. If the reader love the style and writing but wanted more out of the storyline progression, they should definitely continue. But IF they don't mesh with the writing and style from the first book, then yeah it might not be worth it.
Interesting video, I was just thinking that the sunk cost fallacy doesn't exist for fantasy readers 😂 Like when we get told to read at least up to book 3 of a 4 book series because that's where it "gets good" 😂
@@PetrikLeo You won't hear me argue that, Summer Knight is one of my favorites from the entire series 😂 Though I do seem to be one of the rare people that was completely hooked from Storm Front . . .
Not related to the video but I started Licanius and I kinda freaking hate you for recommending it because I’m not even halfway through book 1 yet there have been so many plot twists that I’m worried my brain’s gonna be completely fried by the end! (The characters are a lot better written than what I’ve been told though so that’s a plus at least)
I hated the characters in The Three Body Problem and it was too much concept/ideas, so I finished the book and never continued with the trilogy. People say The Dark Forest is even "more challenging" which was the nail to the coffin for me. But if it's that much better in characters, I might give it a try! :0
I don't think Dark Forest is more challenging than Three-Body Problem. Somehow, it felt easier. And yes, the narrative is more character-centered unlike Three Body and Death's End. I strongly recommend it! :)
I wish I could sit down and chat with some people who don't get into these books or have to be told, "at least go to X book in the series." I'm generally hooked by these books and it only gets better as I get into the series. Maybe I'm too easy to please lol.
I know right!? Also, I am positively thinking it will be easier and more polite to chat about books in person than on text. I feel like people can get easily mean on text. 😂
@@PetrikLeo This would 100% be an in person conversation. Any time you are seeking to understand someone, it cannot be done via text. We don't have the luxury of multiple drafts and editors for out texts to make sure they come across as intended! I would be interested in knowing if there are stand alone books that could be in this category though, as I think a slow/off start could more easily kill a desire to finish that one book.
For Urban Fantasy I have two recommendations. The first is The Dresden Files. I know several people who never got past the first book, and it is honestly not a great read. The second book is a huge improvement, but it's in the third book where the series really hits it's stride. After that it's hard to put them down. The other is The Iron Druid Chronicles. I had a hard time with the first book. I didn't really like the main character very much. He tended to come across as very self centered, but as the series goes on, he really grows as a person, and other characters that are added to the series are fun to follow as well.
The Dresden Files is definitely a series worth reading past the first book. The first book is just okay, but the series becomes great. Books 2 and 3 are better than 1, but book 4 is when the series goes to another level and becomes representative of the quality of the rest of the series.
Book 4 is indeed where the series starts to get much better for Dresden Files. And it's so consistently great as well. I have read every book in Dresden Files and can vouch for this! :)
Great video. I am not really an Urban Fantasy fan and I like YA even less. Paternus, I have never heard of it, haven't read Rachel Adams either. Otherwise I have read everything else here and really enjoyed them.
Red Rising is another good one....I loved the first book but it seems a lot of people are luke warm on it or think it's going to be YA...but nah, that series starts to go nuts and is certainly not YA and becomes something far more than the first book seems like it will be. Also, Dresden Files, the first couple books can be samey and you just aren't sure why you should bother, but particularly since the books are such quick reads, you should stick with it if there is anything at all you like about it because it certainly progresses into some really fun stuff and lots of character progressions. They make great pallatte cleansers.
Agreed on both accounts. I have mentioned them in my previous episode of this series of videos. Golden Son is a huge step up from Red Rising. And Dresden Files gets so much better later on! :)
Its not listed, but the Terry Brooks Shannara Series, where is it is an absolute must that you get past the first book. The first book Sword of Shannara is incredibly derivative of Tolkein and even Brooks admits its not very good--but you have to get though it to introdiuce the major families that persist as main characters thoughout the Saga. But after Sword, Brooks finds his voice and the entire Shannara Saga, which spans 42 books and centuries of in-world time presents a fantastic read with incredible world building and memorable characters and even goes to places and explores themes that most SFF stories do not go.
Never understood why people think Blade Itself is slow or not good. That book is fantastic! Before they are Hanged is one of my favourites from Joe Abercrombie. and The Heroes.
I almost gave up on the blade itself when i got to a scene (early in the book) where Logan is talking to Bayaz and Bayaz asks him a question and then Logan proceeds to give a complete, unrealistic, out of character, uninterrupted monologue... so I thought this author was not what i was looking for. But i didnt give up! and read all three. There is a lot of plot issues and world building issues with the first law, there basically is none! its all about the characters. Which you would think would be a bit boring, but no, its amazing to me how well expertly written characters can hold themselves up without a plot.
I wouldn't so no plot except for The Blade Itself, which was minimum, but you're right that the expertly-written characters winning over everything else. I always say, when you care about the character, you can overlook everything else. :)
Hi Patrik, I loved the first law world and i found the first 2 books really amazing, i love slow burn. In last last book especially the last part of the story which is mostly the war i found it really confusing. Did you experience the same on your first read? Or is it only me who found the events slightly confusing.
This was Faithful and the Fallen to me.(I know a ton of others felt the same) The first half of the first book was so boring. Like 500 names in 10 chapters and I didn't care if they all got unalived. It ended up getting into my top 3 series of all time.
Hi Petrik! Unrelated to the video but wanted to know if Gods of the Wyrdwood by R J Barker was on your soon to be TBR? I saw you marked it on Goodreads and I would love to hear your thoughts. It’s such a unique book that I think you’ll love.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is on my TBR for sure. I have read everything by R.J. Barker, and will definitely read this series, too. Probably will read it after the series is completed, though. :)
Does the pacing improve in sun eater after book 1? I have read first 200 pages of empire of silence but nothing significant ever happens to surprise me or move the plot forward in anyway. Does the plot get fast paced
Most of the beginning portion of each book in The Sun Eater series is a slow burn. But Ruocchio is an author that ramp up the tension as the book gets closer to its end. I strongly recommend continuing! As long that you're having a great time reading Ruocchio's prose, though! :)
@@PetrikLeo Yes, love his prose. World building is good too just I want something exciting to always happen in my books with twists & turns. Thanks for the detailed info though, will continue the series
@kushal4516 through the first three books, while they improve as they go, I would never call them fast paced. Red Rising they are not (which is a good thing IMO).
Dark Forest has a really weird part where the MC asks the GOV to go find a girl for him and she is for some reason subservient to him. It's really strange.
@PetrikLeo People at Broken Binding never heard of it. Maybe you can inform them or connect Durfee with Wraithmarked or Merrick, that way he could get help, maybe bookmarks or pins, if no special editions can be made.
No, NO!, no book is worth "pushin through", you don't have unlimited time, there's so many other great things you can do, why waste the time on badly written book? a book should be great from first sentence.
