StormingTexan

Until I started reading Sanderson's books magic was just magic. Now I get very frustrated when a magic system does not have a semblance of logic behind it. If it is just waving a wand and saying some funny sounding commands with no explanation on how it actually works I find myself turned off really quickly even if I like everything else about the story. Although not as complex as any of Sanderson's magic system I saw some similarities In The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan.

Just finished Armada. Pretty disappointing. I think Cline is a victim of his own success. Ready Player One was so good I had huge expectations for his second book. I wouldn't say it was horrible just far from greatness.

I agree the synopsis pretty much spells that out. There is a pretty good twist to that though (although you will probably see it coming). Like I said if you like Sanderson (obviously we all do) I think you will like this too. It is not WoK caliber by any means but I think on par with Elantris. About 6 chapters in to Armada looking really good so far! It is following the nostalgia porn route Ready Player One did. Some may say this is gratuitous and a cheap trick but I'm a geek at heart and like it.

I agree with all of the above. I think if this was written by a well known established author I'd be a little more critical. It's a debut though and a hell of a lot better debut than most in the fantasy genre I've read. Some stuff was predictable but let's be honest after you read enough what's not? I'm no where near as eloquent in my reviews as most I usually just judge a book by if I like it or not this one I liked and think the author has a lot of potential. I wouldn't say he rips off other authors but there is some obvious insperation in the book and to me that gives me almost a comfortable relatable apeal. It did follow very similar paths as other books but still felt original.

I am almost done with The Shadows Of What Was Lost. Really impressed. I actually think any Sanderson fan would enjoy this book. There are a few issues being this was a debut novel not surprising but overall they are easily overlooked. They story and characters are great. I got this book because I wanted an audio book and narrators had ruined the last few so I picked this solely on the fact Michael Kramer was the narrator. I am pleased to find a new author I really like on my gamble. Good thing I am almost finished with that because I received my pre-order of Armada Ernest Cline's second book and its burning a hole in my kindle app. Really looking forward to this I loved Ready Player One and hope this holds up to the same caliber.

Thank the God Beyond people started posting about this in the meme thread because I totally missed this. Took me a while to figure out this was in the past too. I was thinking he went back to the Roughs after AoL. One thing I was surprised (not offended in the least though) was there was a little raciness. Now to read chapter 1 and 2!

via Imgflip Meme Maker

I agree I liked the last powder mage book the least but still worth a read really liked the series. Just started listening to The Shadow of What was Lost. Michael Kramer is the narrator so it's already got that going for it. I like it so far.

Couldn't it be just as possible Spren are predominately male or female depending on their type? Or at least I should say we haven't seen enough from the same type to know one way or the other. Oh and I am sure this was tongue and cheek but by this logic wouldn't Lift, Shallan and Jasnah be bi too.

I finished the 4th book in the Temeraire series. Think I may stop here as I have heard the series takes a downward then started Uprooted right away. Sorry to say I got about half way in to it and for some reason I just don't like it. I am thinking it may be the magic and I am spoiled by Sanderson's magic "systems" where this is more of a traditional wizard making potions and chanting spells (at least as far as I got). It is probably just me though and I loved books 1-4 of the Temeraire so it is not the author in general. I know a lot of people really like the book by the reviews I have seen.

1) Mistborn 2) Warbreaker 3) Stormlight (although I admit after another book or two this could move up to one) 4) Reckoners 5) TES a little over Elantris but almost tied. Then everything else.

Good to know that's next on my list. I'm reading the 5th book in the Temeraire and really enjoying the books.

I am fascinated with tardigrade now and really want to see an Epic named "Water Bear" with tardigrade powers. That is all.

I agree with this. Although I understand why they have been jumping around from the books to make this a more interesting TV series it is always frustrating when you have read and love the books. I guess we need to stop thinking of the books and the show as one in the same but the show as inspired by the books because it is pretty clear they are going their separate ways. The thing I wonder is for better or worst will Martin change his plan for the next two books? I could even see him doing it on a subconscious level. Like if he sees something he didn't think really work in the show and he changes the books or vice versa. We see this all the time with movies or shows being totally different than the books (usually for the worst I'm nodding to you Dune the movie) but this case is a little rare and the show is moving a lot faster than the books (I am close to giving up hope there will be two more books). Sometimes I have to remember that film captures a much bigger audience so the majority of people that watch GOT have no clue anything is different than the books. I was recently reminded of this watching Wayward Pines with my wife. They completely changed how everything happened so far compared to the books. It drives me insane yet my wife who didn't read the book sees absolutely nothing wrong with the show.

At this point I'd settle for book 6 before I die.

Can there be a season 7 with what is currently written or are they just going to go completely off book after next season? I am trying to think of everything left and it only seems like one more season to me with how they have done the show so far. Actually I really thought they would wait for what happened in the last scene for next year. I admit it has been so long since I read the books I am starting to have a hard time remembering what actually happened in the books and what the show has taken liberties on. I almost feel like this is an excuse for Martin to not finish the books. Let HBO finish it with his input....

This talk about not caring about Nightblood is blasphemy! I would have been equally excited if this was Stick's book but Dalinar's sounds interesting. I admit I was excited about the possibility of Szeth's book we know what he is now (well pre-WOR ending) but little about how he came to be except that he was deemed truthless. I'd like to learn more about the Shen too. I must be in the minority here really looking forward to Eshonai's flashbacks. I really like seeing the flip side of the coin and want to know more about the Parshendi form their POV.

I love these threads they help me put my TBR list together which amazingly is a little empty atm. +1 for Brian McClellan Powder Mage books are probably the best non-Sanderson I've read so far this year. Since you said SciFi have you read the Hyperion books by Dan Simmons? You mentioned Herbert so I assume Dune I rank the first Hyperion book right under Dune. I've also read a little Weeks and Butcher both I think are great as others have said.

I like how surprised people are about the end scene (even though I admit I thought they were going to save that for next season) I guess I assume everyone read the books.

Just finished the Powder Mage trilogy and I really liked it. I will say the end seemed a little rushed but other than that really solid I think most Mistborn fans would enjoy these books. I'm also reading the novellas there are several and enjoying the first one. Also started Naomi Novik's book His Majesty's Dragon from a suggestion here about female fantasy authors. I like it so far.

So which came first the skyeel or the chrysalis?

Stick because I don't like to do what I am told.

This thread is interesting to me because I've recently been giving this topic in fantasy some thought after reading the Powder Mage books. One thing I really like about these books is how the typical gender rolls are somewhat absent. The characters are distinctively male or female and there is some typical male and female interaction like romance but females play an active roll in what typically would be male dominated rolls. Women fight in the army along side men hold high ranks like General. There are several other strong female characters in the books not just the ones involved in the military. Don't want to spoil anything so I wont give more details. In fantasy I am use to the damsal in distress or the heroine that is unsure of herself compared to her male counterparts. I found it pretty refreshing for a change.

To state the obvious I pretty much like all of Brandon's audio books. Only exception being Warbreaker (loved the book hated the narration). Mistborn books are read by Michael Kramer and Stormlight books are read by Michael Kramer (male POV) and Kate Reeding (female POV). Both are excellent. The Reckoners series is read by MacLeod Andrews he is also very good but I like Kramer a little better although I see why he did these his voice is much better suited. I also really liked the narration by Nick Podehl for the Rothfuss Kingkiller books. Besides that some of my favorite audio books are actually SciFi. Dune and Hyperion are two really good ones and are more of an audio performance than just plain narration. Another one I thought was actually better as an audio book was The Martian the narrator was awesome.