@noname3609 Kinda hard to answer... I'll just say my favourite manga and novel series that are tied for number 1 (not in order): Vagabond, Jojo, Malazan, Sun Eater and Berserk.
Enjoying a book so can be so dependent on mood and where you are emotionally and energy-wise in life. So good to hear someone admitting to DNFing for various reasons. And sometimes YA fiction is such a nice, fun, uncomplicated escapist break from the big books.
@@louisepaech9629 I completely agree, DNFing is definitely something I need to get better at. I completely agree on YA being a great break from big reads too
Nah mate, if Kal is your man - like he was mine - never ever pick this book back up is my strong advice. He ends up where youd expect, but in a way that just makes you feel like you wasted a decade of reading life and it is just the most bewildering, disappointing read of my entire life. It's so ridiculous that ill be sending the secret project book back when it gets here. Also great to see another Kristoff fan! Subbed.
@@SpacedOutReads oh man I credit Jay with getting me back into reading after a really tough patch of life - Nevernight will always hold one of the most special places in my heart :-)
Spot on man, I had zero issue with the destination of Kaladin's character and felt it was a perfect way to conclude his character but the journey to it through Wind and Truth was painfully cringe at the worst of times. It honestly felt like a different voice or character at times. Some of the dialogue given to Kal was just so bad which is a shame because he did have some good moments like that certain scene with Syl later in the book.
I haven't started stormlight yet, but seeing reactions to book 5 make me question even starting. Im currently reading mistborn, and its a struggle. Like, everyone EVERYONE says and acts like Sanderson is a god of writing. The more i read through mistborn the more I'm puzzled as to how that can be. Its all so... Hollow.
@@cryingdemon There’s a time and place for his works. The more I read, the less interested I get in his books. Might be time for a dnf for you and Sando
It's ridiculous... Many of the reactions. I think it has more to do with expectations and attachments... Such good plot in this book.. A lot of really good character arcs... Amazing setup. It's not a perfect book. But it is really good. A lot of people are going to revise their initial reaction down the line.... Also don't confuse the trolling with authentic disappointment for fans .. Play some crazy mean trolling happening where people just have an agenda.... Plenty of whom were never actually Brendan Sanderson fans in the first place
i quit half way through book 2 of Mistborn... i was genuinely repulsed (usually quit books out of boredom), and felt bewildered by its popularity. Realized Im a big Sanderson-the-person fan, but not so much the author.
@@kobiianardo i found myself reading a chapter or two, and then going on UA-cam, or social media for a minute or two, read a chapter or two, go on social media for a minute or two. I wasn't compelled to keep reading. His prose is very generic, and didn't inspire me to stay invested.
Reading Wind and Truth right now. So far I'm enjoying it more than RoW but we'll see. Malazan took over as my favorite series of all time last year. Great stuff in there!
@@govannibarrett I’m so glad to hear you are having a good time with it! Malazan is certainly something very special Erikson is one of the best authors aye
I DNF'd RoW and really thought I'd eventually get back to it. So many people are struggling with Wind and Truth , and I think I'm ready to just end with Oathbringer and be happy with that. I loved the first 3 books so much but not enough to slog through to the end.
I listening to ROW and I literally can't pay attention. My interest comes and goes so quick....I want more kaladin chapters but I find shallans boring for some reason
That is where I stopped. I loved the story up to there but the pages and pages of Shallan and Navani stuff wore me out that I just couldn't pick up ROW, it felt like a chore or obligation. With so much other stuff out there to read I'm just not going to read anything I'm not excited about. Same with Malazan, I pushed so deep into it (started book 8) but realized it just feels like a chore now.
Dragonbone is one of those books you need to get through book one before it takes off! I'm glad you haven't given up on it! I finished Wind of Truth but was disappointed, which was a little heartbreaking! I just finished Empire of the Vampire, which I loved. I'm now reading Bastion by Phil Tucker which I am almost done and loving so far!
@@cruisingismylife63 it’s definitely one I want to get back to! I’m sorry Wind and Truth didn’t work for you either, but I’m very happy you loved Empire of the Vampire. I’m very interested in Bastion.
The Heroes was the last Abercrombie standalone I read. I remember putting it off continuously, thinking that it would be boring to read just one big battle... Boyyy was I WRONG! I could not put it down! That book is perfect, one of the easiest 5 stars ratings I ever put! Characters, action, pacing, humour, prose - everything is Abercrombie at the top of his game! And the quotes... there's so much quotable material it's crazy!
@@AntonisMatakos I went into it thinking the exact same thing, I put it off as well and considered jumping to age of madness. How silly of an idea that was aye, it’s just so good!!!!!!!
Fully support the WaT DNF, more power to you. I personally devoured it, but the longer I spend away from it, the more I agree with all the criciticisms I have been seeing. Hope you still enjoy it if you ever get back to it! Anyway, HECK YES for Jade Legacy. I had the exact same experience with that series. Also, you've sold me on the Aurora series, I need that type of brain candy sometimes hahah. Hope you start the year off on a high note, cheers!! 🤩
@@esmayrosalyne Thank you! I’m glad you were able to devour it!! Jade Legacy just hits all the spots aye I love that I sold you in the book that I wasn’t too sure who it would be for 😅 Happy reading in 2025 to you!!
Thank you for your honesty regarding Wind and Truth. I've been moving away from Sanderson in any event, and I've heard a lot of mixed things (at best) for Rhythm of War and now Wind and Truth. It's a shame, because I've loved most of the Sanderson novels I've read, and I've read quite a few. But hey, the TBR is never-ending, and there are so many awesome books and authors to read!
@@MichaelRSchultheiss Thank you, like you I have found the more I read, the less Sanderson resonates with me. It is a never ending tbr I hope you have great reads ahead whether it’s Sanderson or something else
Halfway through GOTM and it’s so good it completely ruined stormlight archive for me, now struggling to finish the second half of oathbringer. Just subscribed as I’m keen to read warhammer books so I’ll come along with your reading order 🙌
@@kingdon1297 Erikson will definitely ruin other authors for you, there’s very few on his level aye Welcome to the community, I don’t know much about Warhammer, I’ll be figuring it out as I go, but after this one I think I’ll read The Night Lords trilogy
Great video! What an awesome view! My best reads of 2024: Deadhouse Gates & Piranesi My worst read of 2024: Wind and Truth (I feel like I’ve aged 50 years trying to get through this)
@@professionalthirdculturekid Thank you so much! Deadhouse Gates is increadible, love Duiker and Coltaine. I will need to read Piranesi. Sorry Wind and Truth isn’t working for you either
I read Piranesi right after forcing myself to finish Wind and Truth and Piranesi was Incredible!!! It was so good and exactly what I needed after 1300 pages of disappointment.
I feel like people who have gone through the entire Cosmere might get through it with the Easter eggs but I felt the same with Wind and Truth. I was mostly sad with how repetitive it was. Glad you loved Jade Legacy in the end!!
@@BrennaReadThis There’s definitely a huge heaping of Cosmere stuff aye, feels like it’s more “Cosmere and Brandon’s messages” rather than “character and story”. Thank you!!!
I haven’t started Stormlight and I liked Mistborn. But I’ve gotta say, the more fantasy/sci-fi I read, the more Sanderson seems very mid. I hope I like Stormlight but idk lol
Stormlight 5 is a real, real step down. He’s been struggling as a writer over his last few cosmere books. Feel like he’s suddenly writing YA. The first 3 Stormlight books are incredible, especially 1 and 2. It makes it even more depressing that the 5th is so poorly written
I thought Kaladin was a non-character in WaT. He doesnt feel like Kaladin and doesnt have an arc at all, its all about Szeth and Kaladin really doesnt change. Despite that he gets a big ending (which was emotionnally underwhelming).
@@arselanehadjslimane2582 This is so disappointing to hear and is a large reason stopped. In what I read, he didn’t sound like the Kaladin from the other books…
Yeah, Dragonbone Chair and the series overall is light on action. It ramps up but yeah, he's no Gwynne or Cornwell. As for the names, i was fine with it. Its with the Trolls, Sithi etc. Williams leans into the Fantastical. The slowness is a staple throughout but these books become comfort reads for me. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend reading Williams and Hobb at the same time. Both are so slow you'll get nowhere fast. I'll restart Stormlight someday because i love Way of Kings and Words of Radiance so much but as someone who already hates his humour... 😂 Love the Ships of Merior and The Heroes! In December I read: *Fantasy* Fitz & the Fool 2: Fool's Quest Fitz & the Fool 3: Assassin's Fate - And thus ends my initial journey around the Realm of the Elderlings, and believe me I'm already dying for a re-read. Its definitely become my favourite *completed* Fantasy series (sorry Malazan and First Law). *Marvel Comics* Daredevil 2: Hell to Pay Written by Saladin Ahmed | Art by Aaron Kuder - Really enjoying the current direction of this run and seeing Matt's previous already messy life conflict with his new one as a priest has been excellent. Daredevil 1: Know Fear Written by Chip Zdarsky | Art by Marco Checchetto - Since I'm trade waiting on the current Daredevil run i thought I'd go back to the previous one and loving it. Not the biggest fan of Zdarsky's humour from some of his previous stuff but seeing him do serious drama instead has been great. Reminds me i need to get back to his Spectacular Spider-man run. Ultimate Black Panther 1: Peace and War Written by Bryan Hill | Art by Stefano Caselli - Really digging what I've read so far of the new Ultimate universe. As for what I'm currently reading: *Fantasy* ASOIAF 1: A Game of Thrones (re-read) - I wanna know if RotE has overtaken ASOIAF as my overall favourite Fantasy but its been so long since I read this series a re-read was more than necessary. Wars of Light & Shadow 4: Fugitive Prince - Wurts' prose has only gotten easier and easier to get lost in. Beautiful stuff.
@@thatsci-firogue I will definitely have to try Dragonborn again, I liked everything about it, I just wasn’t in the place for it. But the mystery of the world and the history and politics was all very well done, lovely writing too. Don’t get me started on Sandersons humour!!!!!! I’m very excited to compare Malazan, RotE and TWOLAS this year, I’m interested to see how ASOIAF and RotE battle it out for your top spot. I have found the same with Wurts, the more I read, the easier her writing flows and transports you
The reaction to Wind & Truth seemed to have soured more immediately for a decent chunk of the fandom than it took for Rhythm of War. I'll still restart the series someday, but I'll wait for the dust to settle first. Too many other good books in the meantime. @SpacedOutReads
@ Yeah, I’ve tried avoiding reviews to not alter my thoughts, but I think you’re spot on. Definitely agree with focusing on those others first, so good
I read the Gentleman Bastards last month. Just as enjoyable the second time. Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff, follow up to Empire of the Vampire. It has been so long since I read EOTV that I've forgotten a lot of the characters. I hope to find a good synopsis online to get me back up to speed. I am not a big Brandon Sanderson fan. I like the way he treats he fans though. He is very generous with them. I also started Carl's Doomsday Scenario, 2nd book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I put it down but I will get back to it. The Illuminae Files (Including Memento) has been added to my TBR files.
@@msj7872 I really have to get to Gentlemen Bastards this year, it sounds right up my alley. So glad you are getting back to Damned, EotV is my favourite series!! Though I do love Dungeon Crawler Carl a lot too. I hope you get on well with Illuminae Files
I've never read any Sanderson. I will eventually if I want to finally finish WOT (I stalled after book 9, waiting for the rest to come out and then when Jordan died and Sanderson completed the series, I didn't know if I wanted to finish it or not - I'm still torn). The more I have read about Sanderson, the more certain I am that he isn't an author for me. This was cemented when I read an interview in which he publicly stated that he is not a fan of editing and likes to just finish a book then move on to the next as he isn't interested in that story any more. I got the distinct impression that he submits his first draft and then others do an edit - which means the edit is not going to be anywhere near as deep as it should be, and explains why his books are so bloated. From the sounds of a lot of what I'm hearing about Wind and Truth, this is becoming much more apparent. December was a bit of an average reading month for me. I read books I enjoyed, and others I DNF'd but there weren't any stand outs. The two books that stand out to me the most from 2024 are: Song of the Mysteries by Janny Wurts - you have this to look forward to, and the wonderful journey to get there The Disestablishment of Paradise by Phillip Mann - this was my second book read by the author and not only did it make me sit and read for hours once I reached a particular point in the book, but had me thinking about it for days after I put it down. I had a similar response to Wulfsyarn, which was the first Mann book I read, in 2023. You mentioned being in the mood for space opera - have you tried the Chanur saga by CJ Cherryh? It starts with The Pride of Chanur, which was written as a standalone, and therefore has a satisfying conclusion. Then there is a follow up trilogy, starting with Chanur's Venture. I loved it. They are relatively short books, so easy to slot in around larger fantasy tomes. For January, I'm hoping to read Mordew by Alex Pheby, The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas, The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, and Voyager in Night by CJ Cherryh.
@@dragonrambles The more of his I read, the less interest I have, he does run through edits quite a bit, but I think with more cooks in the kitchen and his mind being on so many works at once, the characters are becoming more bland and getting lost in the larger Cosmere. He does so many things well and as a human and business man, I have a lot of respect for him, just his books aren’t for me at the moment. I’m so glad to hear you are a Janny Wurts fan, this instantly makes me want to check out your recent, they all sound really good, I’ll save them to check out further
In my perspective, I always categorized the storm like archive as epic power fantasy. But in book 3, it started changing and was solidified in book 4 from his main theme, being escapism and entertainment to mental health exploration.
🤔 Spicy title, i hope the pitchforks aren't too painful when they come. 😂 I have no opinion atm, since I haven't even started the first Stormlight book, but the whole Cosmere is on my tbr this year. I'm enjoying Mistborn series a lot, at least. You never know. Maybe you'll feel like finishing it later. Sometimes, i find it's just the wrong time for a book to come to me, and i finish it a few years later, wondering why i had such a hard time with it lol.
@@Tessa_Ru Hahah it is a pretty spicy title, though I’m learning through the comments it may not be. Everyone has been very nice and there seems to be some agreement. I’m so happy you are enjoying Mistborn, I read those very early on when I rediscovered fantasy and absolutely loved them!
I think I’d also consider Kaladin to be one of my all time favorite characters in all of fiction (probably next to Robin Hobb’s the Fool). I’d also be disappointed if his character arc didn’t end up where I’d like it to. 😞
@@shadowoflugia Have you read Wind and Truth yet? I’d love your take on his arc there. I felt like his voice changed and that’s a big reason I had to stop. I need more Fool in my life
Im surprised, I found the Empire of Silence far too slow and while I did finish the book i didn't have the drive to continue reading the book as for me it was a slog to get through.
Sanderson comes up with interesting story ideas and fun magic systems, but his actual prose is very lacking. I don't know if he's now just surrounded by sycophants, or if he's decided he no longer needs to listen to anybody, but Wind and Truth was mid at best. Whether it's the ideology he decided to include, his ever increasing list of perspective characters, the never-ending failed attempts at humor, the modern slang used, or any of the other flaws, I can't blame anybody for but finishing this one.
@@bryce4228 This is very fair and I definitely agree. I’ve never minded the simplicity of the prose too much in the past. I’d always prefer a bit more flowery lines, like Kristoff, Hobb, Wurts, Abercrombie, Erikson, but I’m okay with simple. The humour has been an issue in the past, but felt worse here. The characters voices really felt different (particularly Kal), that was one of the worst things for me. And the writing was worse here than other books…
I feel like Sanderson has always been a lacklustre writer, and everything im hearing about what people dislike about WaT is what i already felt reading anything ive ever tried by him before.
Yes exactly. I found that he has good ideas (like the magic in mistborn and the world of roshar) and I would like if he just gave these ideas to a good author...
I'm nervous about starting with Way of Kings now haha.. don't want to read some good stories only for it to fall off a cliff at the end. Oh, your yard's looking a bit dry, might need to chuck the sprinkler out a couple times this week.
I finished Wind and Truth, but I was experiencing many of the same issues. The writing felt off from Sanderson's usual quality, there's no subtlety whatsoever, and the characters felt different (especially Kaladin) from how i would expect them to act. Overall i thought it was alright but it degraded my view of some characters and hurt my excitement of future entries.
I finished Wind and Truth, but I think it’s the last Cosmere book I’m buying on release. I’m not hating on Brandon, but IMO the books have gone down significantly in quality alongside going off in a direction that I just don’t enjoy. I’m still curious where the story goes, but overall I think the execution has missed.
@@TheDrewbe3 I’m 100% with you there. Not only has the quality gone down but the direction that Brandon is going with the story and characters doesn’t make any sense or interest me any longer. It’s too bad it feels like a waste of so much potential.
Sanderson has always been a pedestrian writer but must have been covered up by his editor Moshe. Now Moshe is gone Sanderson is free to publish his middle grade level prose. Sanderson is like Nickelback - it kind of sounds like music and it’s popular but it’s not music. Nirvana is music, and Rothfuss is Nirvana.
@@dragonsandwarts5644 You had me till you said Rothfuss hahah nah, I definitely agree with you. I don’t mind plain prose, but changing characters and humour somehow getting worse… 😬
In December, I read thru the Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Honestly, I thought it was excellent. It offered some great perspective of life. It did feel a little preachy and self helpy at times, but as someone who felt similar, I think it captured the essence of a person in that situation would feel. I'm currently now in the middle of The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang. A little coming of age story which is honestly really cool! And I'm looking forward to reading The Gallant also after you recommended it :)
@@avizenko I haven’t heard of either of those, but the way you talk about them has me very interested!!!! I hope you like it, Janny is one very unique writer
@@SpacedOutReads I would recommend them! They both have fantasy elements in the whole "choose your life" theme, but take some different approaches! Yeah, I'm looking forward to trying out her writing! :D
So I started getting back into reading last year for the 52/year challenge. I just set myself up to try that. I mixed in some audio (which I wasn't a fan of initially). But it grows on you. Honestly if you spend an hour reading every single day uninterrupted, you'll get through a rather large amount of books. Phones and other entertainment are so easy to distract you. Just read 1 hour a day and pending your reading speed and book sizes, you'll be in the 35+ book number range. Obviously as you read more over time your love for reading will increase, you'll want to read more frequently and you'll end up reading faster as a result. Good luck in 2025!
This might be a weird take, but I'm starting to feel like just having a TBR is not good for me. Having books I haven't read and a long list (that keeps growing) of others I'd like to get to seems to stress me out for some reason. But I agree w @Dugrath. Devices. Bane of productivity.
@@soulsurf80 Listen to @Dugrath he’s been crushing it with his reading this year! For me I started a few years ago with 5 pages a day to get in the habit, becoming someone that reads everyday. Now it’s my primary form of entertainment (besides UA-cam), I’m not big on TV fan and try not to scroll much. Then yea, setting time aside to read, doing audiobooks is all very helpful.
@@SpacedOutReads I meant Wind and Truth lol but yeah, I got up to about book 7 of Wheel of Time when I was much younger. Robert Jordan was still alive when I gave up. I might give it another go at some point.
I also definitely need to carry on with the Green Bone Saga now! Also, I know it's YA, but The Aurora Cycle is so much fun, I just needed this to kick start my 2025 😅
A shame December hasn't been the best month for you.I completed 6 books last month all 3.5-5 stars. Best book was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (still thinking about it after 2 weeks). I'm currently a third of the way through The Dragonbone Chair and whilst I'm enjoying it, I'm not really loving it. Definitely need something faster paced after, so thinking of going for Shadow of the Gods.
@@Robatk-s8j Thank you! I still think it was pretty good, outside of the parts of Wind and Truth I read. I know exactly what you mean with Dragonborn Chair, and Gwynne will definitely give you something fast, I love his books, especially all the ones in the banished lands. I haven’t heard of Kazuo Ishiguro before
@@SpacedOutReads Nice, it'll be my first Gwynne book, and I can't wait. Ishiguro, is very much on the literary side, but it's in a very similar world to us, but it is dystopian. It's a slow burn, but it's absolutely magical. Definitely one that you'l either love or hate.
This was the e worse book he ever wrote. Everyone put Sanderson on like a godly pedestal like Lucas is and idk if anyone in his inner circle is being honest with him. This shit was garbage
I felt the same way about Aurora but still enjoyed it. Just not as much as the Illuminea Files. I waited and read the novella when I was done, and yes, it does add to the story... I was so immersed that I even kinda teared up a bit... justca bit. It's good to know I'll have more Abercrombie humor to look forward to. There is so much good reading 📚 ahead for 2025. I've begun my reread of The Two Towers, so definitely starting 2025 off right with the Tolkien! 💙📖☺️📚💙
@@amy_harboredinpages Yeah, Aurora is still very fun, I’m on the last book now and I don’t care much for the plot, but I love the writing and world and characters. Illuminae is just so good aye. Abercrombie does provide that Kristoff level humour!! Happy questing with Sam and Frodo
I find most books it takes 150 pages or so to really get into the book for example for me mistborn really like the book but it took a while for me to get into it
I think great authors can do amazing short stories. Popping to mind is the incredible 20 pages of Galatea by Madeline Miller, which lives permanently in my mind. Hobb, Martin, Novik oh too many to mention have some incredible short stories that drop you in by page 2 Actually GRR Martin has been involved in putting quite a few collections together of short stories by authors I had not previously read. Helping me find some great new authors and series you rarely see mentioned on BookTube. Dangerous Women part 1 and part 2 are filled with wonderful shorts. Ideal for breaks between big series. GRRM put both together and I love him for that ❤
Jeez, DNF “Wind and Truth” as well as talking about “Project Hail Mary” with a look on your face like you just ate a sour pickle! Are you consciously hitting the destruct button on your channel???? 😮😂
I’m sorry you didn’t like wind and truth. I really enjoyed it. Much more than book 4. I think Oathbringer is still my favorite, and I appreciated where Kal ended up in the end. But I will say, I’ve loved every Sanderson book so far (besides Lifts book but it was decent), so I’m biased. The only series that beats it for me atm is Sun Eater. Started Iron Gold today. I’m a few hours in and I am enjoying it. Edit: enjoy 40k I definitely have recommendations! Especially if you like space marines and chaos!
@@theangryjeff I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed it and I do like that Kal ended in a good spot!!!! Sun Eater is so elite, I think I will have to reread it this year. I hope you enjoy Red Rising almost as much as Sun Eater, I really like Iron Gold and the next two are even better!!! What 40k books do you recommend?? (Keeping in mind my already loaded tbr haha)
@ tbh you could go any way. Some of the primarch books are really good one offs that aren’t too long (I’m partial to Angron, Alpharius and post heresy Gulliman in that order 😂). A good loyalist space marine book that continues on but is also good by itself is Dante. He is the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, and one of the most hopeful but also depressing characters. Dante is basically his origin story and it shows you how one becomes a Blood Angel. Chaos: the talon of Horus by Aaron Dempski Bowden. It shows the creation of the black legion after the Horus heresy. Also ADB is my favorite 40k author I’ve read. I also love Betrayer by ADB, but that is in the middle of the Horus heresy. It has the greatest bromance of all time though. Sorry I know that’s long but there’s a lot going on in 40k 😂. I think I’ve read close to 20 warhammer books and that’s only a dent. Have any factions caught your eye?
@ I’ll be saving this to come back to, these all sound good, I think I will go with ADB, he seems to be the man! My friends favourite books are The Night Lords ones by ABD so I was looking at those, but I know very little about 40k
@ I’ve heard those books are great. Just never got around to them yet. I started by reading about my favorite space marine legions and hopping around that way after the initial Horus Heresy books. Glad I could help and I hope you like them!
I love sanderson, he generally writes amazing stories, but wind and truth has a lot of issues. the ending is a plot hole ridden mess that is a total character assassination of dalinar. And honestly i cane up with a better ending in like a day after reading it.
I saw Daniel put Sanderson as the most influential fantasy writer since 2000. As a 50+ years reader of fantasy I had never heard of him till starting to watch booktube. Excited by how many listed him as amazing I bought the Mistborn series. I started it while starting an another re read of Daughter of the Empire. Sanderson v Wurts on female characters… it was a disaster for Mistborn. Boring, obvious, dumbest and daftest female characters. Even as YA is was a poor read. So I am going to try Emperors Soul but might miss the rest. If people do love Mistborn then a comparative, but written better, would be Sabriel and the Abhorsen series. I don’t feel alone as many older experienced readers seem to have same opinions as mine when coming to Sanderson later. Plus many who came to WOT and Sanderson as early reads are finding as they expand their reading Jordan and Sanderson drop down their lists. Personally I just love hearing of any books that people loved and are encouraged to read more as a result. To start Meyer 2025 I have started gently with a 3rd re read of Spinning Silver, but audio book this time. I just adore the winter feel and the three females each finding their own agency. Three great character arcs in one tiny stand alone. After your Hunger Games jump into dystopia lots of those ones that became movies are a decent YA read, especially initial books such as Maze Runner, Divergent etc a non movie one would be Scythe. YA sci-fi fun would be A Confusion of Princes, a fun stand alone. Audio also on Libby for free. Most anticipated for 2025 is book 3 EotV, most loved 2024 was EofD ❤
@@heatherauton655 I completely agree, the more that you read the less enjoyment you get out is Sanderson, he’s great when getting into the genre though. I love to hear you are a Janny Wurts fan, she’s so talented! I will have to look into these other books you have mentioned.
11:02 Man then you better just stop the Cosmere now lol. It’s only going to move more toward Sci-Fi and science in general and further away from Magic as the Cosmere goes on so it’s a bummer but you might just need to stop with Sanderson…
I couldn't make it through the Dragon Bone Chair. I liked it well enough, but I found it moved so slowly, and I started to really struggle to pick it up. After a month of avoiding reading, I had to move on. Maybe some day I'll try again.
Wind and Truth. What to say. I loved it. But the writing is not that good. I can't fault people for thinking that. I think my interest in Cosmere books is a bit different from most people. Most of his books I liked but didn't love, and the reason I continue on is because I really love the universe. So WaT. New to your channel so IDK what you didn't like about RoW. But the whole contract/10 day thing that ended RoW and drives this book is kind of sloppy or (flimsy?). There's a lot of stuff in this book that's rushed, things happen a little too conveniently. This is just my opinion and I'm no literary genius, but i have watched Sanderson's lectures and I feel like he does stuff that he warns his students not to do. I really like Kaladin in this book, but his role is def different. Is hard to say whether or not you'll like it w/o spoilers, but that story line is also fairly rushed. There is one line in this book where Kaladin has me laughing out loud. But yeah, humor not great. Don't worry, he's not cracking jokes all a sudden, it's just something he says. But I did love this book. I feel like i was feeding off moments like it was Stormlight giving strength to a weary body. The history, Shards, Heralds and Honorblades, Nighblood, Cosmere... It dropped so many nuggets of things that we've seen so little of, but I've been craving, that I really didn't mind the poor presentation.
@@souljang I’m so glad to hear you loved it! And thank you for your analysis on the aspects that you liked and didn’t. That makes sense about how you like all the Cosmere aspects with the shards and so on, I personally don’t enjoy those aspects as much. And i definitely agree with you on the ending of RoW, I didn’t like the contract and 10 day format and such
Yeah I don’t blame you for not finishing Wind and Truth. There were maybe two decent arcs and the rest of it was slog with forced cringe tik tok humor. I hated what happened to Kaladin and I’ll leave it at that (without spoiling it). It’s why I didn’t like RoW. Thought maybe Sanderson would redeem himself but instead he went in the opposite direction. GREAT…not for me! At least I know I won’t have to wait the better part of a decade for another vapid SA book. But anyway I just finished Dungeon Crawler Carl and I thought it was great. Not really into LitRPG so I was surprised that I ended up liking it.
@@abnushagnasty805 I’m so happy to hear you discovered Dungeon Crawler Carl!! What two characters had the decent arcs? I’m right with you on that humour, it was right after Syls Chullhead joke that I had to put the book down. And Kaladin just didn’t sound like himself at all aye
@@SpacedOutReads Adolin and Szeth had the two best arcs. Trying not to spoil it for you in case you decide to finish it. But honestly I think you did yourself a favor. 🍻
Im reading Wind and Truth right now and I love it ! 600 pages in at the moment ! :D Im glad you enjoyed the Greenbone saga though ! :) The Heroes is in its own league when it comes to war. :))
@@noname3609 So glad you are loving it (can’t remember if I said that in the last comment)!! Legacy was just gripping start to finish, so happy I kept going. It really is, Abercrombie is now top 5!!!
@SpacedOutReads You still gotta read Red country,Sharp Ends and Age of Madness trilogy which is even better than the original one 100%.Even better than Greenbone Saga imho I'll return than with the question If Abercrombie is above Martin or not.☺️
@ Wait, are we talking Abercrombie vs Martin or First Law vs ASOIAF… these are two different debates!!! But I do also have to fit in a reread for ASOIAF it’s been almost 5 years now!!!!!
Dude I loved WaT. Not saying it was the best book ever or that it has no flaws but I had an absolute blast reading it. I’m so so glad I read it before everyone’s negative reviews came out to taint my thoughts going into it. I definitely appreciate the honesty though. Nobody is above criticism!
@@joshuanowlin443 I completely agree with you, but it’s 50 more hours of audio, that’s multiple books of reading to get to the ending 🤷♂️ I don’t know at this point
I will read Wind and Truth and without spoiling it,I will let you know if it's worth reading it brah ! It should be done in 2-3 weeks at most. :D In December I had read Deadhouse Gates which I enjoyed even more than Gardens of the Moon and on Christmass i've started Wind and Truth which I really enjoy,especially Kaladin,Szeth,Adolin,Dalinar&Navani,Jasnah and Sigzil any my least favourites Shallan,Venli,Renarin and Rlain.
@@noname3609 THANK YOU!!! I need to know about Kaladin!! Deadhouse Gates, is just so good isn’t it, Chain of Dogs is one of the best story lines 🥲🥲 I hope you have the best time with Wind and Truth and then Memories of Ice
I enjoyed WAT well enough but the language and dialogue has become really robotic, fake, and YA-esque. The constant surface level therapy speech from half the characters was annoying and felt far less sincere and realistic compared to previous books. What I will say tho is that Kaladin has, for me, a good storyline through the book, his ending feels earned and along with Szeth is the strongest part of the book imo. I still enjoyed it, and I liked a lot where pretty much all the characters end up but it’s nowhere near the quality of the earlier books
@@CLSilverhand I really like your analysis and I 100% agree with those critiques about the writing and character voices. I’m glad you had a positive experience with the book
@ Thanks, I hope you’re able to revisit it in the future as I do think the Kaladin story is satisfying albeit quite different from previous books. I am personally looking forward to his story in era 2 the most based on where every character was left, and I, like you, am a massive Kaladin fan
🤘. You still had a solid month. I cant weigh in on any of Sanderson. I have his first 3 books on my kindle for Stormlight, but the more i hear about it, the more I'm thinking he's just not going to be an author for me. And now especially with a rather large group not really carring for a book 5 of a series. I had this issue with Malazan. I read book 1 and mostly enjoyed it, it was new. Book 2 was much better. Enjoyed most of the POVs. Book 3 another uptick, loved that entire book and then book 4....i read 500ish pages and not a damn thing had happened and i was just so absolutely put off. I went to goodwill the next day after DNFing and got rid of all 4. 😬😬. It happens. Luckily, there are so many series and books out there you dont have to feel bad about not tarnishing the view of a character you have enjoyed. Glad you're enjoying Spear. ADB is technically my favorite author of all time. There hasn't been a book hes written that i havent just absolutely loved. Looking forward to The Gallant! If i like the writing I'll definitely put the series on the TBR list!
@@Dugrath Yes, I can’t see Sanderson being an author you’d love, I think you’d definitely enjoy Kaladin and Dalinar in the first few Stormlight books, but not too much else. That’s so true, I was very happy I could put it down and pick up The Heroes and Spear of the Emperor! I can see why he’s your favourite author, so good!! I am very curious to see how you get on with Jannys Writing and way of story telling, I love it, but I know it’s not for everyone
*reads title*
WHAAAAAAAAT
@valliyarnl Shhh don’t tell anyone, I’ll get kicked off Booktube
@@SpacedOutReads That's ok. I gave The Way of Kings 3.5 stars, and I'm not ashamed of it
@themangaculture And you shouldn’t be!!!! Though I do love WoK
@themangaculture no way.😭
Favourite mangas If I may ask ?
@noname3609 Kinda hard to answer... I'll just say my favourite manga and novel series that are tied for number 1 (not in order): Vagabond, Jojo, Malazan, Sun Eater and Berserk.
Wind and truth felt like reading the IKEA furniture guide, without the furniture. I gave up halfway
@@ozzfestivitys I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it either
Enjoying a book so can be so dependent on mood and where you are emotionally and energy-wise in life. So good to hear someone admitting to DNFing for various reasons. And sometimes YA fiction is such a nice, fun, uncomplicated escapist break from the big books.
@@louisepaech9629 I completely agree, DNFing is definitely something I need to get better at. I completely agree on YA being a great break from big reads too
Nah mate, if Kal is your man - like he was mine - never ever pick this book back up is my strong advice. He ends up where youd expect, but in a way that just makes you feel like you wasted a decade of reading life and it is just the most bewildering, disappointing read of my entire life. It's so ridiculous that ill be sending the secret project book back when it gets here.
Also great to see another Kristoff fan! Subbed.
@@aldan7812 Thank you for the warning! I will be heeding this advice, love that your a Kristoff fan, he’s my #1
@@SpacedOutReads oh man I credit Jay with getting me back into reading after a really tough patch of life - Nevernight will always hold one of the most special places in my heart :-)
@ I’m so glad to hear you discovered him, Nevernight was the first of his I read, now I’m working through all his works
Spot on man, I had zero issue with the destination of Kaladin's character and felt it was a perfect way to conclude his character but the journey to it through Wind and Truth was painfully cringe at the worst of times. It honestly felt like a different voice or character at times. Some of the dialogue given to Kal was just so bad which is a shame because he did have some good moments like that certain scene with Syl later in the book.
@ This analysis sounds very well thought out and fair
I haven't started stormlight yet, but seeing reactions to book 5 make me question even starting. Im currently reading mistborn, and its a struggle. Like, everyone EVERYONE says and acts like Sanderson is a god of writing. The more i read through mistborn the more I'm puzzled as to how that can be. Its all so... Hollow.
@@cryingdemon There’s a time and place for his works. The more I read, the less interested I get in his books. Might be time for a dnf for you and Sando
It's ridiculous... Many of the reactions. I think it has more to do with expectations and attachments... Such good plot in this book.. A lot of really good character arcs... Amazing setup. It's not a perfect book. But it is really good. A lot of people are going to revise their initial reaction down the line.... Also don't confuse the trolling with authentic disappointment for fans .. Play some crazy mean trolling happening where people just have an agenda.... Plenty of whom were never actually Brendan Sanderson fans in the first place
i quit half way through book 2 of Mistborn... i was genuinely repulsed (usually quit books out of boredom), and felt bewildered by its popularity. Realized Im a big Sanderson-the-person fan, but not so much the author.
@ He’s a great person and businessman aye
@@kobiianardo i found myself reading a chapter or two, and then going on UA-cam, or social media for a minute or two, read a chapter or two, go on social media for a minute or two. I wasn't compelled to keep reading. His prose is very generic, and didn't inspire me to stay invested.
Reading Wind and Truth right now. So far I'm enjoying it more than RoW but we'll see. Malazan took over as my favorite series of all time last year. Great stuff in there!
@@govannibarrett I’m so glad to hear you are having a good time with it! Malazan is certainly something very special Erikson is one of the best authors aye
I DNF'd RoW and really thought I'd eventually get back to it. So many people are struggling with Wind and Truth , and I think I'm ready to just end with Oathbringer and be happy with that. I loved the first 3 books so much but not enough to slog through to the end.
@@ceekayy79 I think you’ve made the right decision, those three books are so great aye
I listening to ROW and I literally can't pay attention. My interest comes and goes so quick....I want more kaladin chapters but I find shallans boring for some reason
@PageTurnersbooktube523 I couldn't deal with the Navani ones. I DO NOT CARE about fabrials
@@PageTurnersbooktube523 I completely agree, Shallans chapters kill me! Same with all Navanis fake science
That is where I stopped. I loved the story up to there but the pages and pages of Shallan and Navani stuff wore me out that I just couldn't pick up ROW, it felt like a chore or obligation. With so much other stuff out there to read I'm just not going to read anything I'm not excited about. Same with Malazan, I pushed so deep into it (started book 8) but realized it just feels like a chore now.
My best read of December was Fool’s Fate.
My worst read was Wind and Truth.
@@geauxreadbooks Hobbs brilliance really highlights Brandon’s shortcomings aye
@ Not even on the same level when it comes to truly great writing. But Hobb is just more my style of writer.
@ I completely agree
Dragonbone is one of those books you need to get through book one before it takes off! I'm glad you haven't given up on it! I finished Wind of Truth but was disappointed, which was a little heartbreaking! I just finished Empire of the Vampire, which I loved. I'm now reading Bastion by Phil Tucker which I am almost done and loving so far!
@@cruisingismylife63 it’s definitely one I want to get back to! I’m sorry Wind and Truth didn’t work for you either, but I’m very happy you loved Empire of the Vampire. I’m very interested in Bastion.
9:26 Forced woke agenda ruined the Stormlight Archive series
@@rgzMaximiliano104 fair call
The Heroes was the last Abercrombie standalone I read. I remember putting it off continuously, thinking that it would be boring to read just one big battle... Boyyy was I WRONG! I could not put it down! That book is perfect, one of the easiest 5 stars ratings I ever put! Characters, action, pacing, humour, prose - everything is Abercrombie at the top of his game! And the quotes... there's so much quotable material it's crazy!
@@AntonisMatakos I went into it thinking the exact same thing, I put it off as well and considered jumping to age of madness. How silly of an idea that was aye, it’s just so good!!!!!!!
Fully support the WaT DNF, more power to you. I personally devoured it, but the longer I spend away from it, the more I agree with all the criciticisms I have been seeing. Hope you still enjoy it if you ever get back to it!
Anyway, HECK YES for Jade Legacy. I had the exact same experience with that series. Also, you've sold me on the Aurora series, I need that type of brain candy sometimes hahah.
Hope you start the year off on a high note, cheers!! 🤩
@@esmayrosalyne Thank you! I’m glad you were able to devour it!!
Jade Legacy just hits all the spots aye
I love that I sold you in the book that I wasn’t too sure who it would be for 😅
Happy reading in 2025 to you!!
Thank you for your honesty regarding Wind and Truth. I've been moving away from Sanderson in any event, and I've heard a lot of mixed things (at best) for Rhythm of War and now Wind and Truth. It's a shame, because I've loved most of the Sanderson novels I've read, and I've read quite a few. But hey, the TBR is never-ending, and there are so many awesome books and authors to read!
@@MichaelRSchultheiss Thank you, like you I have found the more I read, the less Sanderson resonates with me.
It is a never ending tbr I hope you have great reads ahead whether it’s Sanderson or something else
Happy New Year! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The Heroes, Gardens of the Moon and Liveships!
@williamgwynne Happy New Year to you too Will!! And happy reading to you
Halfway through GOTM and it’s so good it completely ruined stormlight archive for me, now struggling to finish the second half of oathbringer.
Just subscribed as I’m keen to read warhammer books so I’ll come along with your reading order 🙌
@@kingdon1297 Erikson will definitely ruin other authors for you, there’s very few on his level aye
Welcome to the community, I don’t know much about Warhammer, I’ll be figuring it out as I go, but after this one I think I’ll read The Night Lords trilogy
The view in this video is STUNNING. I'm here for the hot takes
@@crystalsbookishlife Thank you Crystal! It’s not Utah, but Australia has some good sights
Great video! What an awesome view!
My best reads of 2024: Deadhouse Gates & Piranesi
My worst read of 2024: Wind and Truth (I feel like I’ve aged 50 years trying to get through this)
@@professionalthirdculturekid Thank you so much! Deadhouse Gates is increadible, love Duiker and Coltaine. I will need to read Piranesi. Sorry Wind and Truth isn’t working for you either
Deadhouse Gates is one of my favorite books of all time. Finished Memories of Ice this year! Definitely a top read for this year
I read Piranesi right after forcing myself to finish Wind and Truth and Piranesi was Incredible!!! It was so good and exactly what I needed after 1300 pages of disappointment.
@ I love to hear this!
@@SpacedOutReads Coltaine is legendary!
I feel like people who have gone through the entire Cosmere might get through it with the Easter eggs but I felt the same with Wind and Truth. I was mostly sad with how repetitive it was. Glad you loved Jade Legacy in the end!!
@@BrennaReadThis There’s definitely a huge heaping of Cosmere stuff aye, feels like it’s more “Cosmere and Brandon’s messages” rather than “character and story”.
Thank you!!!
5:59 hello, plain and dry prose you say, is it the same level as Brandon Sanderson lately?
@@focusrelax8838 Ahhahahahaahahaha It was
Very plain in the first two books, Legacy had much better writing. But yes, all better than WaT haha
I haven’t started Stormlight and I liked Mistborn. But I’ve gotta say, the more fantasy/sci-fi I read, the more Sanderson seems very mid. I hope I like Stormlight but idk lol
Stormlight 5 is amazing
THAT'S BECAUSE HE IS MID
Stormlight is amazing,treat yourself with the first 3 volumes at least,it's much better than Mistborn ! :D
Stormlight 5 is a real, real step down. He’s been struggling as a writer over his last few cosmere books. Feel like he’s suddenly writing YA. The first 3 Stormlight books are incredible, especially 1 and 2. It makes it even more depressing that the 5th is so poorly written
@@hhuppman I personally love Wind and Truth so far ! Im on Day 5 in the book.☺️
Loving this view! It's helping me feel warm in my freezing cold home 😂
@@middle-earth-ashleigh I’m glad I can send some warm vibes to the frozen north 😅
I thought Kaladin was a non-character in WaT. He doesnt feel like Kaladin and doesnt have an arc at all, its all about Szeth and Kaladin really doesnt change. Despite that he gets a big ending (which was emotionnally underwhelming).
@@arselanehadjslimane2582 This is so disappointing to hear and is a large reason stopped. In what I read, he didn’t sound like the Kaladin from the other books…
Yeah, Dragonbone Chair and the series overall is light on action. It ramps up but yeah, he's no Gwynne or Cornwell. As for the names, i was fine with it. Its with the Trolls, Sithi etc. Williams leans into the Fantastical. The slowness is a staple throughout but these books become comfort reads for me. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend reading Williams and Hobb at the same time. Both are so slow you'll get nowhere fast.
I'll restart Stormlight someday because i love Way of Kings and Words of Radiance so much but as someone who already hates his humour... 😂
Love the Ships of Merior and The Heroes!
In December I read:
*Fantasy*
Fitz & the Fool 2: Fool's Quest
Fitz & the Fool 3: Assassin's Fate
- And thus ends my initial journey around the Realm of the Elderlings, and believe me I'm already dying for a re-read. Its definitely become my favourite *completed* Fantasy series (sorry Malazan and First Law).
*Marvel Comics*
Daredevil 2: Hell to Pay
Written by Saladin Ahmed | Art by Aaron Kuder
- Really enjoying the current direction of this run and seeing Matt's previous already messy life conflict with his new one as a priest has been excellent.
Daredevil 1: Know Fear
Written by Chip Zdarsky | Art by Marco Checchetto
- Since I'm trade waiting on the current Daredevil run i thought I'd go back to the previous one and loving it. Not the biggest fan of Zdarsky's humour from some of his previous stuff but seeing him do serious drama instead has been great. Reminds me i need to get back to his Spectacular Spider-man run.
Ultimate Black Panther 1: Peace and War
Written by Bryan Hill | Art by Stefano Caselli
- Really digging what I've read so far of the new Ultimate universe.
As for what I'm currently reading:
*Fantasy*
ASOIAF 1: A Game of Thrones (re-read)
- I wanna know if RotE has overtaken ASOIAF as my overall favourite Fantasy but its been so long since I read this series a re-read was more than necessary.
Wars of Light & Shadow 4: Fugitive Prince
- Wurts' prose has only gotten easier and easier to get lost in. Beautiful stuff.
@@thatsci-firogue I will definitely have to try Dragonborn again, I liked everything about it, I just wasn’t in the place for it. But the mystery of the world and the history and politics was all very well done, lovely writing too.
Don’t get me started on Sandersons humour!!!!!!
I’m very excited to compare Malazan, RotE and TWOLAS this year, I’m interested to see how ASOIAF and RotE battle it out for your top spot.
I have found the same with Wurts, the more I read, the easier her writing flows and transports you
The reaction to Wind & Truth seemed to have soured more immediately for a decent chunk of the fandom than it took for Rhythm of War. I'll still restart the series someday, but I'll wait for the dust to settle first. Too many other good books in the meantime. @SpacedOutReads
@ Yeah, I’ve tried avoiding reviews to not alter my thoughts, but I think you’re spot on. Definitely agree with focusing on those others first, so good
“I just wanted some nice juicy names” 😂
@@NoelleDReads Can you blame a man for wanting some juicy names 😅😅😅
I read the Gentleman Bastards last month. Just as enjoyable the second time. Empire of the Damned
by Jay Kristoff, follow up to Empire of the Vampire. It has been so long since I read EOTV that I've forgotten a lot of the characters. I hope to find a good synopsis online to get me back up to speed.
I am not a big Brandon Sanderson fan. I like the way he treats he fans though. He is very generous with them.
I also started Carl's Doomsday Scenario, 2nd book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I put it down but I will get back to it.
The Illuminae Files (Including Memento) has been added to my TBR files.
@@msj7872 I really have to get to Gentlemen Bastards this year, it sounds right up my alley.
So glad you are getting back to Damned, EotV is my favourite series!! Though I do love Dungeon Crawler Carl a lot too.
I hope you get on well with Illuminae Files
I've never read any Sanderson. I will eventually if I want to finally finish WOT (I stalled after book 9, waiting for the rest to come out and then when Jordan died and Sanderson completed the series, I didn't know if I wanted to finish it or not - I'm still torn). The more I have read about Sanderson, the more certain I am that he isn't an author for me. This was cemented when I read an interview in which he publicly stated that he is not a fan of editing and likes to just finish a book then move on to the next as he isn't interested in that story any more. I got the distinct impression that he submits his first draft and then others do an edit - which means the edit is not going to be anywhere near as deep as it should be, and explains why his books are so bloated. From the sounds of a lot of what I'm hearing about Wind and Truth, this is becoming much more apparent.
December was a bit of an average reading month for me. I read books I enjoyed, and others I DNF'd but there weren't any stand outs.
The two books that stand out to me the most from 2024 are:
Song of the Mysteries by Janny Wurts - you have this to look forward to, and the wonderful journey to get there
The Disestablishment of Paradise by Phillip Mann - this was my second book read by the author and not only did it make me sit and read for hours once I reached a particular point in the book, but had me thinking about it for days after I put it down. I had a similar response to Wulfsyarn, which was the first Mann book I read, in 2023.
You mentioned being in the mood for space opera - have you tried the Chanur saga by CJ Cherryh? It starts with The Pride of Chanur, which was written as a standalone, and therefore has a satisfying conclusion. Then there is a follow up trilogy, starting with Chanur's Venture. I loved it. They are relatively short books, so easy to slot in around larger fantasy tomes.
For January, I'm hoping to read Mordew by Alex Pheby, The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas, The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, and Voyager in Night by CJ Cherryh.
@@dragonrambles The more of his I read, the less interest I have, he does run through edits quite a bit, but I think with more cooks in the kitchen and his mind being on so many works at once, the characters are becoming more bland and getting lost in the larger Cosmere.
He does so many things well and as a human and business man, I have a lot of respect for him, just his books aren’t for me at the moment.
I’m so glad to hear you are a Janny Wurts fan, this instantly makes me want to check out your recent, they all sound really good, I’ll save them to check out further
In my perspective, I always categorized the storm like archive as epic power fantasy. But in book 3, it started changing and was solidified in book 4 from his main theme, being escapism and entertainment to mental health exploration.
@@veiltricks2947 i can definitely see this
🤔 Spicy title, i hope the pitchforks aren't too painful when they come. 😂
I have no opinion atm, since I haven't even started the first Stormlight book, but the whole Cosmere is on my tbr this year. I'm enjoying Mistborn series a lot, at least.
You never know. Maybe you'll feel like finishing it later. Sometimes, i find it's just the wrong time for a book to come to me, and i finish it a few years later, wondering why i had such a hard time with it lol.
@@Tessa_Ru Hahah it is a pretty spicy title, though I’m learning through the comments it may not be. Everyone has been very nice and there seems to be some agreement.
I’m so happy you are enjoying Mistborn, I read those very early on when I rediscovered fantasy and absolutely loved them!
I think I’d also consider Kaladin to be one of my all time favorite characters in all of fiction (probably next to Robin Hobb’s the Fool). I’d also be disappointed if his character arc didn’t end up where I’d like it to. 😞
@@shadowoflugia Have you read Wind and Truth yet? I’d love your take on his arc there. I felt like his voice changed and that’s a big reason I had to stop.
I need more Fool in my life
@ nope, not yet. I’ve only read the first three books. I wanna reread them before getting into RoW and then WaT.
@ I do plan on reading all of it because Renarin is another favorite of mine, and my friend said we see a lot of him in WaT (and RoW).
@ That’s a good plan, I did a reread for them too before WaT
@ I don’t recall too much of him in RoW, but I have heard there is a lot in WaT (not the first two days I read)
Maybe read bound and the broken?
If STORMLIGHT hasn’t been hitting it right.
@@vaderkurt7848 I love The Bound and the Broken!!!!!! So great
Best read - Empire of Silence
Worst read - Rhythm of War DNF
@@bpuryea Welcome to the world of Sun Eater!!!!!! You’re in for the best time
Im surprised, I found the Empire of Silence far too slow and while I did finish the book i didn't have the drive to continue reading the book as for me it was a slog to get through.
Sanderson comes up with interesting story ideas and fun magic systems, but his actual prose is very lacking. I don't know if he's now just surrounded by sycophants, or if he's decided he no longer needs to listen to anybody, but Wind and Truth was mid at best.
Whether it's the ideology he decided to include, his ever increasing list of perspective characters, the never-ending failed attempts at humor, the modern slang used, or any of the other flaws, I can't blame anybody for but finishing this one.
@@bryce4228 This is very fair and I definitely agree. I’ve never minded the simplicity of the prose too much in the past. I’d always prefer a bit more flowery lines, like Kristoff, Hobb, Wurts, Abercrombie, Erikson, but I’m okay with simple.
The humour has been an issue in the past, but felt worse here.
The characters voices really felt different (particularly Kal), that was one of the worst things for me.
And the writing was worse here than other books…
I feel like Sanderson has always been a lacklustre writer, and everything im hearing about what people dislike about WaT is what i already felt reading anything ive ever tried by him before.
@@MichaelSmith-zx5lw You were right to stay clear
Yes exactly. I found that he has good ideas (like the magic in mistborn and the world of roshar) and I would like if he just gave these ideas to a good author...
I'm nervous about starting with Way of Kings now haha.. don't want to read some good stories only for it to fall off a cliff at the end.
Oh, your yard's looking a bit dry, might need to chuck the sprinkler out a couple times this week.
@@chrisgoods Hahahah yes I might need to do that!
I would be nervous too, but I have seen some Cosmere fans that absolutely loved it
I finished Wind and Truth, but I was experiencing many of the same issues. The writing felt off from Sanderson's usual quality, there's no subtlety whatsoever, and the characters felt different (especially Kaladin) from how i would expect them to act. Overall i thought it was alright but it degraded my view of some characters and hurt my excitement of future entries.
Definitely disagree, it was a killer read and I enjoyed it all the way through...
@@truesoulbeing I completely agree, Kaladin was a different person in the parts of the book I read and the writing, just wasn’t up to it aye
I finished Wind and Truth, but I think it’s the last Cosmere book I’m buying on release. I’m not hating on Brandon, but IMO the books have gone down significantly in quality alongside going off in a direction that I just don’t enjoy. I’m still curious where the story goes, but overall I think the execution has missed.
@@TheDrewbe3 From my experience with the Cosmere i agree with you very much so
@@TheDrewbe3 I’m 100% with you there. Not only has the quality gone down but the direction that Brandon is going with the story and characters doesn’t make any sense or interest me any longer. It’s too bad it feels like a waste of so much potential.
@@hollow3900 Exactly! Very much agree
Professor space wizard in a new setting 😮
@@calumlott new setting, but I’ve learnt my lesson, no cliff jumping in that ocean for me… I hope you are recovering well mate
@ but if you did we could be the broken back bros! Think of the glory!
@ Hahahah does dirge have this level of humour in it?
@@SpacedOutReads ofc. I’ll crank it up more for you in the revised edition I’m working on atm 😂 Arkoma also has some of that delicious wit.
@ I’m waiting for that edition Cal!!!
Sanderson has always been a pedestrian writer but must have been covered up by his editor Moshe. Now Moshe is gone Sanderson is free to publish his middle grade level prose. Sanderson is like Nickelback - it kind of sounds like music and it’s popular but it’s not music. Nirvana is music, and Rothfuss is Nirvana.
@@dragonsandwarts5644 You had me till you said Rothfuss hahah nah, I definitely agree with you. I don’t mind plain prose, but changing characters and humour somehow getting worse… 😬
I've been soaking up the Sanderson hate over the past couple weeks. Hasn't surprised me at all that this series has trended down.
@@matthewbrown1151 hahaha bro is living on cloud nine
I love the outdoors.. where are you from? Great video
@@AnonforGod777 Thank you! I’m down on the coast in south west Victoria, Australia
@@SpacedOutReads Cheers from California Coast Monterey
@@AnonforGod777 I bet it’s lovely there!!!
In December, I read thru the Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Honestly, I thought it was excellent. It offered some great perspective of life. It did feel a little preachy and self helpy at times, but as someone who felt similar, I think it captured the essence of a person in that situation would feel.
I'm currently now in the middle of The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang. A little coming of age story which is honestly really cool! And I'm looking forward to reading The Gallant also after you recommended it :)
@@avizenko I haven’t heard of either of those, but the way you talk about them has me very interested!!!!
I hope you like it, Janny is one very unique writer
@@SpacedOutReads I would recommend them! They both have fantasy elements in the whole "choose your life" theme, but take some different approaches!
Yeah, I'm looking forward to trying out her writing! :D
@ I’ll add them to the ever growing list!!
How much time do you spend each day reading ? Any tips on resting more books ? Such a huge TBR and slow reader . lol
So I started getting back into reading last year for the 52/year challenge. I just set myself up to try that. I mixed in some audio (which I wasn't a fan of initially). But it grows on you. Honestly if you spend an hour reading every single day uninterrupted, you'll get through a rather large amount of books. Phones and other entertainment are so easy to distract you. Just read 1 hour a day and pending your reading speed and book sizes, you'll be in the 35+ book number range.
Obviously as you read more over time your love for reading will increase, you'll want to read more frequently and you'll end up reading faster as a result. Good luck in 2025!
This might be a weird take, but I'm starting to feel like just having a TBR is not good for me. Having books I haven't read and a long list (that keeps growing) of others I'd like to get to seems to stress me out for some reason. But I agree w @Dugrath. Devices. Bane of productivity.
@@soulsurf80 Listen to @Dugrath he’s been crushing it with his reading this year!
For me I started a few years ago with 5 pages a day to get in the habit, becoming someone that reads everyday.
Now it’s my primary form of entertainment (besides UA-cam), I’m not big on TV fan and try not to scroll much.
Then yea, setting time aside to read, doing audiobooks is all very helpful.
So many have said they don't like WoT. At like a billion pages I'm not sure I can even be bothered.
@@senzubean31 I don’t blame you, I DNF’d Wheel of Time at book 7
@@SpacedOutReads I meant Wind and Truth lol but yeah, I got up to about book 7 of Wheel of Time when I was much younger. Robert Jordan was still alive when I gave up. I might give it another go at some point.
@@senzubean31 hahaha I thought you may have, but yes, it applies to both lol
I also definitely need to carry on with the Green Bone Saga now! Also, I know it's YA, but The Aurora Cycle is so much fun, I just needed this to kick start my 2025 😅
@@middle-earth-ashleigh You don’t have to, you have a lot of great series in your TBR!!!!
Kristoff could write a shopping list and I’d read it
@SpacedOutReads But what if I'm missing out?!
Also, yes. His shopping list may even give clues as to how he fuels his genius
@ Hahaha yes, lots of clues!
Get back to it, but your tbr is stacked!
A shame December hasn't been the best month for you.I completed 6 books last month all 3.5-5 stars. Best book was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (still thinking about it after 2 weeks). I'm currently a third of the way through The Dragonbone Chair and whilst I'm enjoying it, I'm not really loving it. Definitely need something faster paced after, so thinking of going for Shadow of the Gods.
@@Robatk-s8j Thank you! I still think it was pretty good, outside of the parts of Wind and Truth I read.
I know exactly what you mean with Dragonborn Chair, and Gwynne will definitely give you something fast, I love his books, especially all the ones in the banished lands.
I haven’t heard of Kazuo Ishiguro before
@@SpacedOutReads Nice, it'll be my first Gwynne book, and I can't wait. Ishiguro, is very much on the literary side, but it's in a very similar world to us, but it is dystopian. It's a slow burn, but it's absolutely magical. Definitely one that you'l either love or hate.
@@Robatk-s8j I hope you have a great time with it!
I might have to look into it, I do love divisive books ahaha
If you're looking for something faster-paced, I recently published a novel titled Paladin of the State: Origins. It's short, but sweet.
Interesting, I gave up on book 4 in the storm light archive, the loved the first three the fourth one just dragged on 🥺
@@YaFeya13 It really did aye, you made a good choice I think
@ there are so many good books, there is no need to suffer through the ones you don’t enjoy 🙃
@ Absolutely agree!!!
This was the e worse book he ever wrote. Everyone put Sanderson on like a godly pedestal like Lucas is and idk if anyone in his inner circle is being honest with him. This shit was garbage
@@simtye88 So disappointing!!! Whoever let Syls Chullhead joke though the editing process needs to be fired lol
I felt the same way about Aurora but still enjoyed it. Just not as much as the Illuminea Files. I waited and read the novella when I was done, and yes, it does add to the story... I was so immersed that I even kinda teared up a bit... justca bit.
It's good to know I'll have more Abercrombie humor to look forward to.
There is so much good reading 📚 ahead for 2025. I've begun my reread of The Two Towers, so definitely starting 2025 off right with the Tolkien!
💙📖☺️📚💙
@@amy_harboredinpages Yeah, Aurora is still very fun, I’m on the last book now and I don’t care much for the plot, but I love the writing and world and characters. Illuminae is just so good aye.
Abercrombie does provide that Kristoff level humour!!
Happy questing with Sam and Frodo
@SpacedOutReads yes! Less them more Treebeard at the moment! Listening to the Serkis narration as I read... can't wait to get to the Gullum parts 😃
@ Yes, love that part!!!!!
I wanna start it but idk lol it's such a commitment and all the things I hear idk if I wanna start now lol
@@BrownTown89 It is quite the conundrum aye, I do love those early books
I find most books it takes 150 pages or so to really get into the book for example for me mistborn really like the book but it took a while for me to get into it
@@Grimm44 That’s a very fair rule to have, I agree.
I think great authors can do amazing short stories. Popping to mind is the incredible 20 pages of Galatea by Madeline Miller, which lives permanently in my mind.
Hobb, Martin, Novik oh too many to mention have some incredible short stories that drop you in by page 2
Actually GRR Martin has been involved in putting quite a few collections together of short stories by authors I had not previously read. Helping me find some great new authors and series you rarely see mentioned on BookTube.
Dangerous Women part 1 and part 2 are filled with wonderful shorts. Ideal for breaks between big series. GRRM put both together and I love him for that ❤
Jeez, DNF “Wind and Truth” as well as talking about “Project Hail Mary” with a look on your face like you just ate a sour pickle! Are you consciously hitting the destruct button on your channel???? 😮😂
@@tomhunter7672 The thing is… it’s growing like never before lol hahahahahah
Welcome In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. The Nightlords Trilogy from the same Author salutes you
@@vaizard1453 I just finished downloading It to my kindle!!! How did you know!!!
@ it’s one of the most recommended trilogies out there. Some say that nightlords trilogy it’s his best work. Ave Dominus Nox brother.
I’m sorry you didn’t like wind and truth. I really enjoyed it. Much more than book 4. I think Oathbringer is still my favorite, and I appreciated where Kal ended up in the end. But I will say, I’ve loved every Sanderson book so far (besides Lifts book but it was decent), so I’m biased. The only series that beats it for me atm is Sun Eater.
Started Iron Gold today. I’m a few hours in and I am enjoying it.
Edit: enjoy 40k I definitely have recommendations! Especially if you like space marines and chaos!
@@theangryjeff I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed it and I do like that Kal ended in a good spot!!!!
Sun Eater is so elite, I think I will have to reread it this year. I hope you enjoy Red Rising almost as much as Sun Eater, I really like Iron Gold and the next two are even better!!!
What 40k books do you recommend?? (Keeping in mind my already loaded tbr haha)
@ tbh you could go any way. Some of the primarch books are really good one offs that aren’t too long (I’m partial to Angron, Alpharius and post heresy Gulliman in that order 😂).
A good loyalist space marine book that continues on but is also good by itself is Dante. He is the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, and one of the most hopeful but also depressing characters. Dante is basically his origin story and it shows you how one becomes a Blood Angel.
Chaos: the talon of Horus by Aaron Dempski Bowden. It shows the creation of the black legion after the Horus heresy. Also ADB is my favorite 40k author I’ve read. I also love Betrayer by ADB, but that is in the middle of the Horus heresy. It has the greatest bromance of all time though.
Sorry I know that’s long but there’s a lot going on in 40k 😂. I think I’ve read close to 20 warhammer books and that’s only a dent.
Have any factions caught your eye?
@ I’ll be saving this to come back to, these all sound good, I think I will go with ADB, he seems to be the man!
My friends favourite books are The Night Lords ones by ABD so I was looking at those, but I know very little about 40k
@ I’ve heard those books are great. Just never got around to them yet. I started by reading about my favorite space marine legions and hopping around that way after the initial Horus Heresy books. Glad I could help and I hope you like them!
I love sanderson, he generally writes amazing stories, but wind and truth has a lot of issues. the ending is a plot hole ridden mess that is a total character assassination of dalinar. And honestly i cane up with a better ending in like a day after reading it.
@@joshuanowlin443 I’m sorry to hear that Wind and Truth didn’t work out too well for you either
I almost dnf’d WaT too. Definitely my least favorite of the series. While it had great points it also had some really disappointing ones too 🤷🏻♀️
@@fromfullertofullest very balanced view 🤷♂️
I saw Daniel put Sanderson as the most influential fantasy writer since 2000. As a 50+ years reader of fantasy I had never heard of him till starting to watch booktube.
Excited by how many listed him as amazing I bought the Mistborn series. I started it while starting an another re read of Daughter of the Empire.
Sanderson v Wurts on female characters… it was a disaster for Mistborn. Boring, obvious, dumbest and daftest female characters. Even as YA is was a poor read.
So I am going to try Emperors Soul but might miss the rest.
If people do love Mistborn then a comparative, but written better, would be Sabriel and the Abhorsen series.
I don’t feel alone as many older experienced readers seem to have same opinions as mine when coming to Sanderson later.
Plus many who came to WOT and Sanderson as early reads are finding as they expand their reading Jordan and Sanderson drop down their lists.
Personally I just love hearing of any books that people loved and are encouraged to read more as a result.
To start Meyer 2025 I have started gently with a 3rd re read of Spinning Silver, but audio book this time. I just adore the winter feel and the three females each finding their own agency. Three great character arcs in one tiny stand alone.
After your Hunger Games jump into dystopia lots of those ones that became movies are a decent YA read, especially initial books such as Maze Runner, Divergent etc a non movie one would be Scythe.
YA sci-fi fun would be A Confusion of Princes, a fun stand alone. Audio also on Libby for free.
Most anticipated for 2025 is book 3 EotV, most loved 2024 was EofD ❤
@@heatherauton655 I completely agree, the more that you read the less enjoyment you get out is Sanderson, he’s great when getting into the genre though.
I love to hear you are a Janny Wurts fan, she’s so talented! I will have to look into these other books you have mentioned.
@@heatherauton655 Also, Empire of the Damned was also my favourite read this year!
11:02 Man then you better just stop the Cosmere now lol. It’s only going to move more toward Sci-Fi and science in general and further away from Magic as the Cosmere goes on so it’s a bummer but you might just need to stop with Sanderson…
@@mtverv I definitely am done with it
Finished WaT but definitely was disappointed.
@@PreacherReads Sorry to hear you didn’t have a good time with it
@@SpacedOutReads Its complicated. I enjoyed it overall, but was so disappointed. I know that's confusing but you probably know what I mean xD
WAT makes me not want to read Stormlight 6-10. Disappointing.
@@jinushaun also disappointing that he’s just leaving the series for years and it will be years before he even gets to it
I couldn't make it through the Dragon Bone Chair. I liked it well enough, but I found it moved so slowly, and I started to really struggle to pick it up. After a month of avoiding reading, I had to move on. Maybe some day I'll try again.
@@derella My experience felt much the same, it had everything I like, but it was very very slow aye
Stormlight archive has turned into the post end game MCU of fantasy. Sad to see.
@@undbiter65 I think you are right…
Likely increaes the odds for a Hollywood adaptation
Wind and Truth. What to say. I loved it. But the writing is not that good. I can't fault people for thinking that. I think my interest in Cosmere books is a bit different from most people. Most of his books I liked but didn't love, and the reason I continue on is because I really love the universe. So WaT. New to your channel so IDK what you didn't like about RoW. But the whole contract/10 day thing that ended RoW and drives this book is kind of sloppy or (flimsy?). There's a lot of stuff in this book that's rushed, things happen a little too conveniently. This is just my opinion and I'm no literary genius, but i have watched Sanderson's lectures and I feel like he does stuff that he warns his students not to do. I really like Kaladin in this book, but his role is def different. Is hard to say whether or not you'll like it w/o spoilers, but that story line is also fairly rushed. There is one line in this book where Kaladin has me laughing out loud. But yeah, humor not great. Don't worry, he's not cracking jokes all a sudden, it's just something he says. But I did love this book. I feel like i was feeding off moments like it was Stormlight giving strength to a weary body. The history, Shards, Heralds and Honorblades, Nighblood, Cosmere... It dropped so many nuggets of things that we've seen so little of, but I've been craving, that I really didn't mind the poor presentation.
@@souljang I’m so glad to hear you loved it! And thank you for your analysis on the aspects that you liked and didn’t. That makes sense about how you like all the Cosmere aspects with the shards and so on, I personally don’t enjoy those aspects as much. And i definitely agree with you on the ending of RoW, I didn’t like the contract and 10 day format and such
I finished wind and truth and I wish I had dnfed it.
@@Shredder489 I’m sorry it didn’t work for you
Me with Simona name, watching the video 👁👄👁
@@thundertale1 hahah it’s a great name, just feels weird in a fantasy book, if my own was in there I’d have the same complaint haha
Yeah I don’t blame you for not finishing Wind and Truth. There were maybe two decent arcs and the rest of it was slog with forced cringe tik tok humor. I hated what happened to Kaladin and I’ll leave it at that (without spoiling it). It’s why I didn’t like RoW. Thought maybe Sanderson would redeem himself but instead he went in the opposite direction. GREAT…not for me! At least I know I won’t have to wait the better part of a decade for another vapid SA book.
But anyway I just finished Dungeon Crawler Carl and I thought it was great. Not really into LitRPG so I was surprised that I ended up liking it.
@@abnushagnasty805 I’m so happy to hear you discovered Dungeon Crawler Carl!!
What two characters had the decent arcs?
I’m right with you on that humour, it was right after Syls Chullhead joke that I had to put the book down. And Kaladin just didn’t sound like himself at all aye
@@SpacedOutReads Adolin and Szeth had the two best arcs. Trying not to spoil it for you in case you decide to finish it. But honestly I think you did yourself a favor. 🍻
@ I’m glad to hear those two had some good arcs, they are both such great characters.
Thank you!!!
Im reading Wind and Truth right now and I love it ! 600 pages in at the moment ! :D
Im glad you enjoyed the Greenbone saga though ! :)
The Heroes is in its own league when it comes to war. :))
@@noname3609 So glad you are loving it (can’t remember if I said that in the last comment)!!
Legacy was just gripping start to finish, so happy I kept going.
It really is, Abercrombie is now top 5!!!
@SpacedOutReads You still gotta read Red country,Sharp Ends and Age of Madness trilogy which is even better than the original one 100%.Even better than Greenbone Saga imho
I'll return than with the question If Abercrombie is above Martin or not.☺️
@ Wait, are we talking Abercrombie vs Martin or First Law vs ASOIAF… these are two different debates!!! But I do also have to fit in a reread for ASOIAF it’s been almost 5 years now!!!!!
@@SpacedOutReads yeah,our very first debate.😅
We'll talk about it when u done with the entire First Law World.☺️
I listened both,love em'
@@noname3609 I remember the debate, just remit being the series not the authors
I also DNFED it hafway! The book was really boring and repetitive.
@@santihagne8151 You did well making it that far sir
I DNF'D Words of Radiance and dont worry about it 😂
@@Henry-jp3mc Hahahaha
Dude I loved WaT. Not saying it was the best book ever or that it has no flaws but I had an absolute blast reading it. I’m so so glad I read it before everyone’s negative reviews came out to taint my thoughts going into it. I definitely appreciate the honesty though. Nobody is above criticism!
@@hw3345 I’m so happy to hear you loved it man!!! The more people that love it the better
I'm like 20 chapters in and I’m nervous lol. I keep seeing these reviews. Wish I had read quicker lol
@ I hope you love it! There’s lots of people having the best time!!!
The best thing about sanderson books are the endings, to get all the way to book 5 just to not get to the best part is silly.
@@joshuanowlin443 I completely agree with you, but it’s 50 more hours of audio, that’s multiple books of reading to get to the ending 🤷♂️ I don’t know at this point
What best part?
I will read Wind and Truth and without spoiling it,I will let you know if it's worth reading it brah ! It should be done in 2-3 weeks at most. :D
In December I had read Deadhouse Gates which I enjoyed even more than Gardens of the Moon and on Christmass i've started Wind and Truth which I really enjoy,especially Kaladin,Szeth,Adolin,Dalinar&Navani,Jasnah and Sigzil any my least favourites Shallan,Venli,Renarin and Rlain.
@@noname3609 THANK YOU!!! I need to know about Kaladin!!
Deadhouse Gates, is just so good isn’t it, Chain of Dogs is one of the best story lines 🥲🥲
I hope you have the best time with Wind and Truth and then Memories of Ice
@@SpacedOutReads Thank You.I will let u know If Kaladin will be safe nor if his arc will be top notch quality.☺️
Moi,can't wait to read it!!!!😁
@@SpacedOutReads I cried when a certain legendary character died by the end,killed by a random.Chain of dogs was mindblowing.☺️
@@noname3609 That death was absolutely savage
I enjoyed WAT well enough but the language and dialogue has become really robotic, fake, and YA-esque. The constant surface level therapy speech from half the characters was annoying and felt far less sincere and realistic compared to previous books. What I will say tho is that Kaladin has, for me, a good storyline through the book, his ending feels earned and along with Szeth is the strongest part of the book imo. I still enjoyed it, and I liked a lot where pretty much all the characters end up but it’s nowhere near the quality of the earlier books
@@CLSilverhand I really like your analysis and I 100% agree with those critiques about the writing and character voices. I’m glad you had a positive experience with the book
@ Thanks, I hope you’re able to revisit it in the future as I do think the Kaladin story is satisfying albeit quite different from previous books. I am personally looking forward to his story in era 2 the most based on where every character was left, and I, like you, am a massive Kaladin fan
@@CLSilverhand Thank you! I’m opening to going back to it one day, but will need a break from Sanderson for some time I think 😅
🤘. You still had a solid month. I cant weigh in on any of Sanderson. I have his first 3 books on my kindle for Stormlight, but the more i hear about it, the more I'm thinking he's just not going to be an author for me. And now especially with a rather large group not really carring for a book 5 of a series.
I had this issue with Malazan. I read book 1 and mostly enjoyed it, it was new. Book 2 was much better. Enjoyed most of the POVs. Book 3 another uptick, loved that entire book and then book 4....i read 500ish pages and not a damn thing had happened and i was just so absolutely put off. I went to goodwill the next day after DNFing and got rid of all 4. 😬😬.
It happens. Luckily, there are so many series and books out there you dont have to feel bad about not tarnishing the view of a character you have enjoyed.
Glad you're enjoying Spear. ADB is technically my favorite author of all time. There hasn't been a book hes written that i havent just absolutely loved.
Looking forward to The Gallant! If i like the writing I'll definitely put the series on the TBR list!
@@Dugrath Yes, I can’t see Sanderson being an author you’d love, I think you’d definitely enjoy Kaladin and Dalinar in the first few Stormlight books, but not too much else.
That’s so true, I was very happy I could put it down and pick up The Heroes and Spear of the Emperor! I can see why he’s your favourite author, so good!!
I am very curious to see how you get on with Jannys Writing and way of story telling, I love it, but I know it’s not for everyone
Wind and truth is beast mode.
@@bluecalx40 Beast Mode????
@SpacedOutReads yes... Beast mode.