Dame K

I adore WOT but I'm trying to decide whether I need the new companion. If you have it, how happy are you with it? Did it have any new info?

I think Kaladin would win because he's proven time after time that you just can't keep him down. Even if they win the battle, he'd win the war.

I'm a huge Jim Butcher fan! How funny that everyone suggested him. I haven't tried the newest series but I'll have to dive in. Here's the thing with Wheel of Time, the first book is absolutely awesome, especially if you're in the mood for just straight fantasy. Books one through six are pretty easy to get through, in my opinion, though some people think book six is a bit of a slog (but the payoff at the end is worth it). Then basically nothing happens from book seven through ten. It's the hardest part to get through. But then 11-14 is amazing (Book 11 is still written by Jordan and then the rest are Sanderson.) I think it is worth it to read it. There are fans who recommend just reading summaries of seven through ten. So that was my incredibly roundabout way of saying, yes, read them, but don't be shocked when you get to the "dry spell". Just know Sanderson's got your back and is waiting to make it all up to you. Also, your signature made me laugh really hard. I want to embroider that on a pillow.

I think I'll start with a little story, a story of how Brandon Sanderson's work came into my life. It all started because I couldn't finish Wheel of Time. When I was 12, someone bought me The Eye of the World. I fell in love and tried to read the whole series. Around book 8, I would give up. I would get annoyed and just stop. After a suitable period, I would try again. Got as high as book 10 once. But at the age of 27, someone at a book store informed me I had to try again. "You have to get to the Sandersons, trust me." "Who is Brandon Sanderson?" I wondered. But I did it, I gritted my teeth and made it through what I consider the "dry spell" (books 7-10) and hit the ones written by an author I'd never read, Brandon Sanderson. Well, it goes without saying that I'm a big fan of Brandon Sanderson. I have not read all of his books yet, but only because I'm pacing myself. See, normally when I find a new author, I run out and read all their books in mad dash. I've been told I read fast (usually a book a day, but more often than not, two or three) and so this habit can leave me wishing I hadn't gone through them like that so the wait between new books coming out wouldn't be so bad. All of B.S.'s books are like wonderfully rich chocolate cakes, so I only indulge one a month. What I have read is the original Mistborn trilogy (Alloy is waiting on the shelf for February!), his absolutely wonderful Wheel of Time books, Elantris, Steelheart, Firefight, and my absolute favorite of his works Stormlight Archive. I am devoted to Kaladin--out of all the wonderful characters Sanderson has produced, he is my favorite. Outside of Sanderson, I'm a voracious chain-reader. Fantasy is my hands down favorite genre, but I read almost everything (with the exception of romance, which I've just never particularly enjoyed). Some of my favorite authors are Asimov, Murakami, Wodehouse, Stout, Atwood, Gaiman, Clarke (Susanna), Felix J. Palma, Pratchett, and, um, really this could go on for days. I love talking books, hence joining a fan forum. I'm not sure what else to say... Bridge Four!