All the four books are extremely different from each other. Blade of Tyshalle is all about consequences - it's heavy, emotional, slowburning, profoundly disturbing at places, overall memorable gut punch. It's very dividing among the readers from what I've seen. Caine Black Knife is a thorough exploration and reevaluation of the character from himself, while also having the honor of being the most overwhelmingly humorous and hilarious piece of fiction I've read. And Caine's Law is... weird, metaphysical, theological even, non-linear and an extremely insteresting way to conclude the series, which, well, definitely isn't for everyone. My experience with Stover has been just a constant, neverending build up of cool and mindblowing, this bombastic testosterone over the top awesome apocalyptic event. However, I'm telling you from now, that if you found the conversations between Caine, Ma'elKoth and Duncan to be the most rewarding, you're definitely going to be at the very least impressed by Blade. However, it also gets much darker.
I need more F-Bombs in fantasy 😂. Heroes Die was so good! Stover managed to do everything I enjoy in fantasy. Over the top badassery that makes you think. The Emperor is so interesting. It is a new all time favorite for me. I have the sequel queued up for the first weekend in October. Great vlog!
I read Stover's Revenge of The Sith novelization some years ago, and much as I don't care for media tie ins, it's one of those rare beasts that actually adds a lot more and even exceeds the original movie. I know, blasphemy! I may check out Heroes Die, Sam from ISamwise has been getting after me to read it. Also Ireland looks like fun! Maybe I oughta give Carlos and Yolanda a visit too! Keep up the good work Jimmy!
For a book that is so beloved, I realised that I knew absolutely nothing about its premise lol. Loved hearing your unfiltered thoughts, and great to know that it works so well as a standalone (you are speaking to my soul here hahah). Thanks for taking us along for some bits of your Ireland trip, it looked amazing, especially that GoT tour!! Hope you had a wonderful time 🤩
Big time agree on The Emperor being the best character and Berne being a buttface. If the sequels do focus more on the deeper conversations this book touched on then please let me know. Great vlog, Ireland looks beautiful ❤
Digging the vlogging. I am going to add this to my ever-growing TBR and while it's not necessarily a priority, it sounds interesting. Also, great B-roll, my wife and I went to Ireland a while back for a friends wedding and spent a lot of times taking tours and visiting pubs. What a great country. Thanks for sharing!
I read about 40% of this book a few years back because people kept suggesting it for people who were going through Bakker withdrawals. I kinda dipped out on it because I was expecting to be blown away and wasn't, but your vlog is making me want to go back and finish it now that I know where to set my expectations.
I should read this one. This past ICFA I presented a paper about what I see as the problem of violence in modern fantasy and argued that certain series are more productive than we might expect for showing us non-violent responses to conflict.
agree with you on most of the accounts about this book; didn't care much for action but loved the MC and his sense of humor. he did give me strong Logen Ninefinger vibes, though their inner monologues are very different. if you loved the emperor and the worldbuilding, then sequels should be right up your alley!
Ireland is definitely on my bucket list, tied for first place with Japan. My mom went to Ireland five times with her five sisters all during the 80s, before it became The Celtic Tiger. It was quite different back then 🤗 Some of her greatest memories. Hope you have a wonderful time! That’s a cover indeed…….my my. I discovered Hercules and Xena in high school by accident and watched waaaaay more than I meant to. Happy Reading! 📖
I think you convinced me to check this book out, but we'll see how long it takes to climb my mountain of a tbr. Touching on violence in media is definitely something I think about frequently
Knew you'd dig it. The rest of the books in the series are definitely unique among fantasy for the time its written. There's an upcoming depiction of Hari and a self-care moment that he has to perform that is more impactful than a lot of 'realistic' fantasy out there. Will look forward to your Blade of Tyshalle take!
I totally got the same 'I kinda wish it to be over' feeling with Heroes Die. But Blade of Tyshalle never dragged for me - that book was actually more what I expected Heroes Die to be. BoT is the most tollthehoundsian book I have read (yes even more then TTH). What Heroes Die is to violence - Blade of Tyshalle is to darkness. If you want books to go there, BoT was already there to begin with - and it goes further. STOP! NOT THAT FAR! BoT destroyed my brain.
Interesting! I actually liked Heroes Die more on a reread and really got sold by the sequels. As you you've heard, they get more experimental structurally and more philosophical. By the end Caine/Hari the character and the series as a whole was an all-timer for me. Going into Blade of Tyshalle, just know that there is a super comically villain thing in there, but I'd hope that you enjoy the rest of it all the more. It's super divisive, but I happen to love and appreciate it. Kinda goes a little Aspect Emperor on you. That's probably why it's so polarizing, because people don't like to have the rug pulled out from under them.
In all seriousness most of my favorite SFF is when the author doesn’t take just one or two ideas but rather twenty seven and puts them all into one series. (Like Book of the New Sun and ASOIAF) I loved how bonkers Heroes Die was and I’m glad you enjoyed it too. I’m on the fence about book two so I’ll eagerly await your thoughts! *also huge congrats on the GOT tour. Those pictures and moments look once in a lifetime.
Almost spit out my drink when you discussed the use of “butthead.”
Great Ireland footage.
@@BookishTexan hahahahha
i rlly enjoyed this reading vlog and I hope you enjoyed Ireland :D
@@valliyarnl thank you! I adored Ireland
Hard disagree. Large corporations make me feel safe. They’re looking out for me.
@@mitch8948 lmao
All the four books are extremely different from each other. Blade of Tyshalle is all about consequences - it's heavy, emotional, slowburning, profoundly disturbing at places, overall memorable gut punch. It's very dividing among the readers from what I've seen. Caine Black Knife is a thorough exploration and reevaluation of the character from himself, while also having the honor of being the most overwhelmingly humorous and hilarious piece of fiction I've read. And Caine's Law is... weird, metaphysical, theological even, non-linear and an extremely insteresting way to conclude the series, which, well, definitely isn't for everyone. My experience with Stover has been just a constant, neverending build up of cool and mindblowing, this bombastic testosterone over the top awesome apocalyptic event. However, I'm telling you from now, that if you found the conversations between Caine, Ma'elKoth and Duncan to be the most rewarding, you're definitely going to be at the very least impressed by Blade. However, it also gets much darker.
@@shulgi582 I appreciate this comment, very helpful!
100% agree. I remember the first book being good but a sort of standard story, and then it really takes off after that.
@@jcmberne you all gonna have me start book two way sooner than I had anticipated lol
everything about this sounds like something Jimmy would at least appreciate.
You love to see it! Metaphysical is also the word that describes Caine's Law best imo.
Pretty wild that you brought your entire set to Ireland. Production costs for this episode must rival Game of Thrones.
@@sw3dge 🤣
I need more F-Bombs in fantasy 😂. Heroes Die was so good! Stover managed to do everything I enjoy in fantasy. Over the top badassery that makes you think. The Emperor is so interesting.
It is a new all time favorite for me.
I have the sequel queued up for the first weekend in October.
Great vlog!
@@JosephReadsBooks book two just arrived today for me! Not sure when I’ll read it
I’ve had this one on the shelf for so long too - can’t wait to try it, and loved seeing Ireland!
@@BooksWithBenghisKahn you gotta try it, it’s wild lol
A Viking Excursion with Storytoob!?!? I'm jealous. Awesome video Jimmy.
@@blacknbluecollarreader it was a great time! Thanks for watching Dan 😎
I read Stover's Revenge of The Sith novelization some years ago, and much as I don't care for media tie ins, it's one of those rare beasts that actually adds a lot more and even exceeds the original movie. I know, blasphemy! I may check out Heroes Die, Sam from ISamwise has been getting after me to read it.
Also Ireland looks like fun! Maybe I oughta give Carlos and Yolanda a visit too! Keep up the good work Jimmy!
@@someokiedude9549 thanks!
This sounds very like the Chronicles of Amber
@@timothyburbage I could see it in some ways
Jimmy, I'm loving these reading vlogs. If you make more this year, I'll eat them up.
Thank you so much!
Great vlog Jimmy. Our thoughts on this one are very similar. You've even made me consider continuing on with the series at some point.
@@brentasmith appreciate it! I keep hearing the sequels are closer to Bakker material so that has me very interested
For a book that is so beloved, I realised that I knew absolutely nothing about its premise lol. Loved hearing your unfiltered thoughts, and great to know that it works so well as a standalone (you are speaking to my soul here hahah). Thanks for taking us along for some bits of your Ireland trip, it looked amazing, especially that GoT tour!! Hope you had a wonderful time 🤩
@@esmayrosalyne thank you Esmay!
Going to admit I didn't realize his name was WoodRing until you said it and I've read his Star Wars books years ago.
@@andrewlavigne44 I’m glad I’m not alone
Big time agree on The Emperor being the best character and Berne being a buttface. If the sequels do focus more on the deeper conversations this book touched on then please let me know. Great vlog, Ireland looks beautiful ❤
@@benjamincrowhurst5998 thanks brother, hope to read them early 2025 possibly
Digging the vlogging. I am going to add this to my ever-growing TBR and while it's not necessarily a priority, it sounds interesting. Also, great B-roll, my wife and I went to Ireland a while back for a friends wedding and spent a lot of times taking tours and visiting pubs. What a great country. Thanks for sharing!
@@adamborst beautiful country! Thanks so much for your kind words
I read about 40% of this book a few years back because people kept suggesting it for people who were going through Bakker withdrawals. I kinda dipped out on it because I was expecting to be blown away and wasn't, but your vlog is making me want to go back and finish it now that I know where to set my expectations.
Heard the sequels are way more Bakker adjacent
I should read this one. This past ICFA I presented a paper about what I see as the problem of violence in modern fantasy and argued that certain series are more productive than we might expect for showing us non-violent responses to conflict.
@@paulwilliams6913 definitely read this one then, it’s digging into that very topic
agree with you on most of the accounts about this book; didn't care much for action but loved the MC and his sense of humor. he did give me strong Logen Ninefinger vibes, though their inner monologues are very different. if you loved the emperor and the worldbuilding, then sequels should be right up your alley!
@@Gaz_the_lock love to hear that!!
Ireland is definitely on my bucket list, tied for first place with Japan. My mom went to Ireland five times with her five sisters all during the 80s, before it became The Celtic Tiger. It was quite different back then 🤗 Some of her greatest memories. Hope you have a wonderful time!
That’s a cover indeed…….my my. I discovered Hercules and Xena in high school by accident and watched waaaaay more than I meant to.
Happy Reading! 📖
@@Fianna1775 those shows were huge for me when I was young! Ireland is amazing place with wonderful people. I’ll visit there again
I think you convinced me to check this book out, but we'll see how long it takes to climb my mountain of a tbr. Touching on violence in media is definitely something I think about frequently
@@ajpruitt4628 it’s a bit cheeky in its approach but it’s sincerely entertaining
Literally going to Ireland in 3 days with my wife. Looks amazing!
@@Denis-sz9pg I want to immigrate there 😆
Love that you did the GoT tour while you were there! haha. Ireland is on my bucket list.
@@reading_by_myshelf there’s like 4 other ones, I have to go back and do them all 😂
@@thefantasynuttwork I just hope you dressed up for it…..🥸
So happy you enjoyed it!!!🙂👍
Me too!
Caine would love Blood Meridian.
@@iSamwise facts lol
Knew you'd dig it. The rest of the books in the series are definitely unique among fantasy for the time its written. There's an upcoming depiction of Hari and a self-care moment that he has to perform that is more impactful than a lot of 'realistic' fantasy out there. Will look forward to your Blade of Tyshalle take!
@@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels love to hear that!
“Self-care moment”? Is that a euphemism for…never mind.
Love the Powells shirt!
@@kevinhove6893 best store!
I totally got the same 'I kinda wish it to be over' feeling with Heroes Die. But Blade of Tyshalle never dragged for me - that book was actually more what I expected Heroes Die to be.
BoT is the most tollthehoundsian book I have read (yes even more then TTH). What Heroes Die is to violence - Blade of Tyshalle is to darkness.
If you want books to go there, BoT was already there to begin with - and it goes further. STOP! NOT THAT FAR!
BoT destroyed my brain.
@@ariansun4879 that sounds so interesting!
Agree!
Interesting! I actually liked Heroes Die more on a reread and really got sold by the sequels. As you you've heard, they get more experimental structurally and more philosophical. By the end Caine/Hari the character and the series as a whole was an all-timer for me.
Going into Blade of Tyshalle, just know that there is a super comically villain thing in there, but I'd hope that you enjoy the rest of it all the more. It's super divisive, but I happen to love and appreciate it. Kinda goes a little Aspect Emperor on you. That's probably why it's so polarizing, because people don't like to have the rug pulled out from under them.
@@marcweber8509 aspect emperor huh 👀
@@thefantasynuttwork it's bleak man :D
@@thefantasynuttwork btw I just read Neuropath by Bakker. kind of makes me wanna get a brain replacement 😂
💚
@@zeallygreen ❤️
What happened to one piece?
@@maxsmith5933 I’m
Reading it offline
@@thefantasynuttwork Probably for the better... altough I miss out on your thoughts 😔
"Way less polished than my other videos"... wait those were polished?
Sorry man, I had to. 😂
@@thatsci-firogue lmao
In all seriousness most of my favorite SFF is when the author doesn’t take just one or two ideas but rather twenty seven and puts them all into one series. (Like Book of the New Sun and ASOIAF) I loved how bonkers Heroes Die was and I’m glad you enjoyed it too. I’m on the fence about book two so I’ll eagerly await your thoughts!
*also huge congrats on the GOT tour. Those pictures and moments look once in a lifetime.
@@iSamwise it was genuinely one of the best experiences I’ve had
Look at all those sheep ❤ I want to go to Ireland someday.
@@SarahJ70 highly recommend!!