What Are You Reading, Part 2

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

17 hours ago, Shatter said:

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Not really. We learned that the expansion of the universe was not constant so even though it is relatively accurate it's not precise.

 

Alright.

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

Read: A ton of romance novels for a book club. I hate myself.

 

Currently reading: The Shining 

I'm almost done, but so far my reaction has been in the positive. This is my first time trying horror, and I was not disappointed. Incredible.

[Treamayne]

Operation Bounce House

Spoiler

All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do was run the family ranch with his sister, maybe play a gig or two with his band, and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking as long as possible. He figures it will be a good thing when the transfer gate finally opens all the way and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora. But there’s a complication.

Even though the settlers were promised they’d be left in peace, Earth’s government now has other plans. The colossal Apex Industries is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying AI soldiers when they can turn it into a game? Why not charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines and remotely pilot them from the comfort of their homes?

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against machines piloted by gamers who’ve paid a premium for the privilege. With the help of an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.

About half-way through - not bad so far.
You can tell the author researched "spoiled-brat Call of Duty troll streamers."

 

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

I read The Giver for a school book club, finished the Tau Zero audiobook, and read a bit more of the Dragon Reborn.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Interesting themes here. It reminds me a little of Red Rising, with the rigid structure, though even RR doesn't go this far. And also the whole safety thing is reversed. Not much else to say.

Tau Zero by Poul Anderson

Really cool ending!

Spoiler

I'm assuming what they call 'clans' are galactic superclusters.

Wow. They went from going to a random star system, to the next cluster, to the next supercluster, to beyond the next supercluster, to the next universe.

I guess dark energy wasn't a thing when this book released, as it wouldn't allow the universe to collapse again unless it grew significantly weaker. And it also wasn't mentioned at all, so there's that.

The next universe is still kind of wild though.

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

Spoiler

Everyone's going to Tear, except Mat.

The Aiel are popping up everywhere. 

 

Edited March 9 by Through The Living KSauce

[al_lan_mandragoran]

Ben-Hur - the rewritten edition by Carol Wallace.

Spoiler

Very interesting piece of historical fiction. It was thrilling and fast-paced, without being irreverent.

 

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

I got gifted Tailored Realities, so I started reading Snapshot today. Yes, I know I'm delaying WoT a lot, but it's just really slow. No matter how hard I try, I can't get engrossed in it.

Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson

I'm at the end of Chapter 4. Really cool concept.

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

No major updates.

"Maybe I'll finish the next book faster," I'd said

EDIT:

I read a bit more of Tailored Realities

Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson

I did NOT see that Sanderlanche coming

Spoiler

A Snapshot in a Snapshot... I felt like I should've anticipated that. And him not shooting is a deviation... wow.

Brain Dump by Brandon Sanderson

Interesting concept, a future with designer brains...

I Hate Dragons by Brandon Sanderson

A main character who can hear spelling and punctuation

Edited March 15 by Through The Living KSauce

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

Finished: Tailored Realities 

Excellent. 

Spoiler

All of the stories were amazing, but Moment Zero is honestly one of the best Sanderson books I've read. To pull off such an amazing story and awesome Samderlanche in a short story is a feat. Say what you will about his later works, this book is a masterpiece.

Project Hail Mary 

What. Did. I. Just. Read.

Spoiler

Don't want to give away any spoilers, but this was amazing. Not gonna lie, I cried a little at the end.

I'm actually excited for the movie. Let's see how it turns out!

Review: worth a read, no matter what you like. Fun story, interesting science, and actually low swearing. Highly recommend!

The Testing - Book Club 

Hunger Games rip-off, same awful writing, but I actually liked more than the Hunger Games, weirdly.

Spoiler

Much better romance with actual romantic tension, intensity with genuine stakes, even real stress about what's happening. Improvement on both the critism and story.

Review: pretty good. Like I said, better than the Hunger Games. Worth a read, especially if you liked the Hunger Games or you like dystopian.

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

4 hours ago, Through the Living Hopper said:

Hunger Games rip-off, same awful writing, but I actually liked more than the Hunger Games, weirdly.

Wait are you describing Hunger Games as awful writing?

The trilogy doesn't have great prose, but that's about it imo (and the prequels are better in every way, except pacing in aBoSaS)

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

5 hours ago, Through the Living Hopper said:

Project Hail Mary 

What. Did. I. Just. Read.

Glad you liked it

Anyways s'more Tailored Realities

Dreamer by Brandon Sanderson

Really cool concept, I could see this magic system being in the Cosmere

It also reminds me of Reckoners for some reason, maybe it's the modern setting and chases, and the end...

Spoiler

It all having been a game...

Wow

[Calamity] (yes I know, first time nested spoiler boxes are actually useful)

Spoiler

It reminded me of Calamity/Larcener

 

 

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

8 hours ago, The Unknown Medallion said:

Wait are you describing Hunger Games as awful writing?

The trilogy doesn't have great prose, but that's about it imo (and the prequels are better in every way, except pacing in aBoSaS)

Yeah, I am. I dislike the Hunter Games writing. I think it was a good idea that was pretty much ruined.

[Treamayne]

3 hours ago, Through the Living Hopper said:

12 hours ago, The Unknown Medallion said:

16 hours ago, Through the Living Hopper said:

Hunger Games rip-off, same awful writing, but I actually liked more than the Hunger Games, weirdly.

Wait are you describing Hunger Games as awful writing?

The trilogy doesn't have great prose, but that's about it imo (and the prequels are better in every way, except pacing in aBoSaS)

Yeah, I am. I dislike the Hunter Games writing. I think it was a good idea that was pretty much ruined

To me, I think for many people it's a fundamental misunderstanding of the original trilogy - it is mean to be a story of personal horror. The first person limited viewpoint was intended to let the reader feel same confusion the MC does (in theory). The problem is, the story itself would have been better from 3d person limited (like Ballad) and that's why the Movies are generally considered better, because the worldbuilding gets more fleshed out when you have scenes from outside of Katniss' perspective.

The first trilogy was not bad. However, if you go into it expecting a normal dystopian story with worldbuilding and setting, you will likely be disappointed in a personal horror story that happens to be set in a SF dystopia. 

Edited March 18 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Schizoposting]

On the topic of Hunger Game ripoffs, I recently read Red Rising, and I wrote a full review, here. Long story short, I disliked it, due to the actual Hunger Games sequence, which I found to be agonizing to read. 

As for the original, it's been many years since I last read it, but I remember it being pretty good. But maybe I would have a different opinion if I were to reread it today. I never saw the films, so I can't say anything about them.  

39 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

The first person limited viewpoint was intended to let the reader feel same confusion the MC does (in theory). The problem is, the story itself would have been better from 3d person limited (like Ballad) and that's why the Movies are generally considered better, because the worldbuilding gets more fleshed out when you have scenes from outside of Katniss' perspective.

For whatever reason, all the young/new adult books use first person, I'm not exactly sure why—Harry Potter, which basically created the genre, uses third person if I remember correctly. Maybe they're all influenced by Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games? And apparently, the BookTok/Romantasy readers refuse to read anything that's not in first person, which I quite frankly find bizarre. 

Personally, I dislike the use of first person point view unless if it's justified somehow, i.e., it should be the character literally telling a story, or them writing a memoir or something. Otherwise, I see no reason why it can't be done in third person limited. Something like the Farseer trilogy, gets this right, in my opinion.

 

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

9 hours ago, Schizoposting said:

Personally, I dislike the use of first person point view unless if it's justified somehow, i.e., it should be the character literally telling a story, or them writing a memoir or something. Otherwise, I see no reason why it can't be done in third person limited. Something like the Farseer trilogy, gets this right, in my opinion.

That's interesting. I prefer first person, partly because it lends itself to better prose and voice, but tbh I prefer it even when those aren't present. I still like third limited, like I'd prefer good third limited prose/voice over mediocre first person prose/voice, but all things being equal, first person gets me in the character's head better. 

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

9 hours ago, The Unknown Medallion said:

That's interesting. I prefer first person, partly because it lends itself to better prose and voice, but tbh I prefer it even when those aren't present. I still like third limited, like I'd prefer good third limited prose/voice over mediocre first person prose/voice, but all things being equal, first person gets me in the character's head better. 

18 hours ago, Schizoposting said:

Personally, I dislike the use of first person point view unless if it's justified somehow, i.e., it should be the character literally telling a story, or them writing a memoir or something. Otherwise, I see no reason why it can't be done in third person limited. Something like the Farseer trilogy, gets this right, in my opinion.

I agree with Schizoposting, 1st person needs to have a reason. Almost always I'll like 3rd person more, because I think it has better prose almost always.

But PHM was first person, and I think that was the best way it could have been written, so I don't really know.

[Schizoposting]

On 3/18/2026 at 10:53 PM, The Unknown Medallion said:

That's interesting. I prefer first person, partly because it lends itself to better prose and voice, but tbh I prefer it even when those aren't present. I still like third limited, like I'd prefer good third limited prose/voice over mediocre first person prose/voice, but all things being equal, first person gets me in the character's head better. 

Well, my problem with first person is that it's often lazily used, to make the story more "personal" or something, without actually doing anything interesting with the form. Farseer uses it well, because the framing device is about Fitz trying to work through his traumatic experiences. But in something like Red Rising, its use does not add anything to the story.

Now, this by no means ruins the story for me, but it is something that I think is unnecessary and makes the work worse. I would rather see authors experiment, and do their own thing, rather than mechanically use first person because that's what BookTok expects.

On 3/19/2026 at 8:19 AM, Through the Living Hopper said:

But PHM was first person, and I think that was the best way it could have been written, so I don't really know.

I have not read any of Weir's books, but from the excerpts that I have seen, the actual writing seems... bad. I think that the appeal is more so the scientific concepts, than said writing. But my impression may be wrong. (Although, from what I understand, it's written as a diary, so in this case the use of first-person perspective is justified.)

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

4 hours ago, Schizoposting said:

I have not read any of Weir's books, but from the excerpts that I have seen, the actual writing seems... bad. I think that the appeal is more so the scientific concepts, than said writing. But my impression may be wrong. (Although, from what I understand, it's written as a diary, so in this case the use of first-person perspective is justified.)

I don't think that it's that bad, but you should read PHM and see what you think.

 

Edit:

Aurora Rising 

Fun, I guess

Spoiler

The end felt like it was really ripping off Halo. The whole thing with the "ancient zombie-like enemy spores that are trying to get through the cosmos" annoyed me in its similarity. The was what bothered me most. The other was really small, but for some reason it triggered my pedanticism: they said that the war elf or whatever turned the star into a black hole, but even if that's true, it wouldn't do anything to the planet! Also, the war elves and to a lesser extent weird mister felt like Chekhov's guns to me.

Review: okay, as long as the reader doesn't like Halo.

Edited March 20 by Through the Living Hopper

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

4 hours ago, Schizoposting said:

Well, my problem with first person is that it's often lazily used, to make the story more "personal" or something, without actually doing anything interesting with the form. Farseer uses it well, because the framing device is about Fitz trying to work through his traumatic experiences. But in something like Red Rising, its use does not add anything to the story.

Now, this by no means ruins the story for me, but it is something that I think is unnecessary and makes the work worse. I would rather see authors experiment, and do their own thing, rather than mechanically use first person because that's what BookTok expects.

This is so odd to me. I feel like it does add to Red Rising. It allows you to identify with Daro and his trauma more personally than 3rd person, as well as making his incorrect assumptions harder to notice (I do have problems with the way plans/information is omitted in the latter books, but 3rd person wouldn't fix that)

For Red Rising in particular, first person is far more atypical than 3rd. For sci fi and fantasy, 3rd person has long been the standard. The use of first person in (I guess pulp fiction? Romance and mysteries primarily) predates Booktok by decades as well. Romance, mystery and YA writers use first person because it's a genre convention that appeals to their target demographic and because, at least in my opinion, writing in first person is easier. 

4 hours ago, Schizoposting said:

have not read any of Weir's books, but from the excerpts that I have seen, the actual writing seems... bad. I think that the appeal is more so the scientific concepts, than said writing. But my impression may be wrong. (Although, from what I understand, it's written as a diary, so in this case the use of first-person perspective is justified.)

It kinda seems like you just find first person to be a sign of bad writing (Also, the word you're looking for here is probably prose). I think PHM is about equal on a prose level to Sanderson. The Martian, which is the one that is epistolary in the form of diary/log entries, has excellent prose imo, not because it's particularly pretty, but because it does exactly what it tries to do. 

This is just a thought I had, do you have an internal monologue? And if you do, is it first person? I wonder if a lot of opinions on this come down to that

[Eluvianii he/him]

32 minutes ago, The Unknown Medallion said:

at least in my opinion, writing in first person is easier.

That's interesting. I always figured first person would be harder because you're stuck with the information the character has. In third person if you're struggling to convey something from the character's pov, you can just zoom out and go omniscient for a bit to say it. Hell, I actually struggled a lot to write in general because I tried so hard to stay within the character's head. Only when I decided to play around with going back and forth between ground level and omniscient narration did it become easier and a lot more fun to write.

I don't really think one is better than the other tho. Purely preference.

[The Unknown Medallion he/him]

7 minutes ago, Eluvianii said:

That's interesting. I always figured first person would be harder because you're stuck with the information the character has. In third person if you're struggling to convey something from the character's pov, you can just zoom out and go omniscient for a bit to say it. Hell, I actually struggled a lot to write in general because I tried so hard to stay within the character's head. Only when I decided to play around with going back and forth between ground level and omniscient narration did it become easier and a lot more fun to write.

I don't really think one is better than the other tho. Purely preference.

It does depend, but there's a couple different reasons it's easier for me. One of the bigger ones is that dialogue is almost always first person, and I sometimes forget to switch back. The information parity doesn't matter as me for me because I'm normally using a narrator style first person so I can zoom out if I absolutely have to.

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

So, I read some more Tailored Realities, as well as the audiobooks for the Institute and the Will of the Many

Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson

Really cool concept, and I agree with Brandon in saying that this could legitimately be the future we live in.

Probability Approaching Zero by Brandon Sanderson

Nice twist

Surprising, how much a 2-page story can tell.

Defending Elysium by Brandon Sanderson

Wow the Skyward lore has a lot more context now

Spoiler

Main Cytoverse talked about how everyone else got cytonics well before the space age, but this...

Shooting down the most advanced starship in the galaxy

Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson

Interesting. 

Spoiler

Though I'm still a little confused as to how Dennison won at the end, even with making Varion 'unlucky'.

The Institute by Stephen King

First time I read anything by Stephen King, and first time I read anything that could be counted as horror, unless the 3 Body Problem counts. 

Overall, fairly good, though the psychic stuff is a little too soft-magic-y for me, and I feel like the characters' logic is missing something at the end...

Spoiler

Chaos theory (aka the Butterfly Effect), I'm pretty sure, negates Mr. Smith's entire argument. Killing random people could easily just have started, not stopped, the war, or perhaps made one worse. Even if their precogs work to with reasonable accuracy, they can't predict how the future will change if some people get blown up.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

I'm not done yet (around chapter XVIII I believe), but this is fire!

It feels a lot like Red Rising, not just because it's Roman-inspired, but also the Hierarchy, the main character's motivation and even his personality. The Hierarchy is a far more humane than the Society though, and merit actually plays a way bigger role, but are still some parallels.

I'm up to where

Spoiler

Vis has just woken up from killing Estevan, he's officially a Telimas, and everyone is celebrating, except Vis himself.

If I were to compare it further to the Red Rising series, I feel like, so far, it has aspects in common both Red Rising and Golden Sun

[The Will of the Many + Golden Son]

Spoiler

Vis = Darrow

Ulciscor's role is basically Nero

The Anguis are like the Sons of Ares, or perhaps [Iron Gold]

Spoiler

The Red Hand

Vis, like Darrow, is dealing with being in the higher levels of society, and has to train for the Academy/Institute, and the Anguis are trying to get him to do things like Harmony tried making Darrow do.

Overall, really, really good. The Hunger Games-type thing in Red Rising is not present, so plot-wise it's kind of like the start of RR and combined with GS.

Now, I wonder if there'll be Morning Star in the same book...

[The cheeseman Don't you dare go Hollow!]

Currently reading Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy, The Komnene Dynasty by John Carr, and The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. All quite good.

[TheUnInvestedCremling he/him....]

Finished Project Hail Mary and The Martian by Andy Wier. Both were fantastic reads!

[al_lan_mandragoran]

10 hours ago, KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Spoiler

He made his brother commit suicide.

The point of the story is that his brother excelled in everything so much that he had never lost anything, especially nothing so important. When he lost his girlfriend? Wife? and thought that he'd lost the battle, he killed himself.

The main character had spent his whole life being second-best (i.e. not the Firstborn), and losing - he knew how to lose gracefully. His brother did not.

 

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

Over spring break, I got into the Alex Cross series from James Patterson.

Along Came a Spider 

Okay, pretty mild compared to the others.

Kiss the Girls

I felt like I was losing a bit of morality with this one, but interesting story.

Jack and Jill

Strong opening, did go downhill.

Cat and Mouse

Not the most memorable story, but not bad either.

Pop Goes the Weasel

Again, not the most memorable story, but pretty good. It does stray into the courtroom, which I can tell isn't Patterson's strongest suit. 

Roses are Red and Violets are Blue

These two together were probably my favorite. They were interesting but didn't make me fear for my life that much.

Four Blind Mice

Okay.

Currently reading: Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson 

[Schizoposting]

I finished The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie, the first book of The First Law trilogy. 

While it's too early to make any judgements, I think that Abercrombie did a very good job in creating a gritty atmosphere, particularly in the way he writes fight scenes, where, instead of sanitizing them, he really shows how brutal and ignoble combat really is. In addition, having the heroes be morally gray (although it depends on the character), and a liberal use of profanity, adds to this as well.

Overall, while the book is mostly setup, and as such, does not work as a standalone, it's still a good read.