Yeah... No. It stays pretty damn slow for the most part, with major story arcs taking place over half a dozen books and some sub-plots taking even longer. That said, it is a brilliant series (exempting a few books in the middle where Jordan got a bit caught up in describing what every other character thought about Rand and the Choedan Kal).

 

Here you go:

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

The Broken Kingdoms

The Way of Kings

 

Thanks for suggesting Way of Kings. I'm loving it right now!

@Oz Is there any particular Tad Williams book that sticks out?

Edit:: Nevermind. I think I'm gonna pick up the Dragonborn series, any reviews on that Oz or anyone else who has read it?

Thanks for the review of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, don't think I'll actually read it @Inverarity.

Thanks a lot guys. My epic fantasy fix has been quenched.

 

Someone here recommended I read The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams back in December 2011. I'm almost done with it and really looking forward to the next book in the series.

It's very well written, to the point that I didn't mind the somewhat clichéd high fantasy characters and plot. If a cliché is executed well, it really doesn't bother me much. And Williams executes them all really well.

The world-building could have been a bit more inventive, though. The main religions are clearly just carbon copies of Christianity and Norse paganism. Quite a few aspects of the world correspond quite baldly with real, historical people, events, and places. Brandon Sanderson's writings are good examples of world-building, as his worlds and magical systems are all very unique. Tad Williams... much less so.

Nevertheless, The Dragonbone Chair is a really good book and kicks off a promising saga. I recommend it.

 

I read Dragonbone chair a long time ago and loved it. Then again I was 14 so don't quite trust my previous opinion of it - I should read it again!

 

Would you say the same for the Shadowmance stories?

 

Shadowmarch was xceptional creatively. Not as well executed as much of his other work, however. Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is, as I've said repeatedly, one of my most heartfelt book recommendations.

Glad to hear you're enjoying it, Sechrima. And you ain't seen nut'n yet, so stick with it.

 

Just finished reading the first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Gardens of the moon and it was, Wow, I don't even know how to describe it, it was an awesome ride.

As most of the readers of the book will testify to the book starts of,not slow, but rather confusing, you are thrust into a wolrd that you don't understand and the other does nothing to explain whats going on.

As hundreds of other readers would attest to its really difficult to get into it and it took me a whole three weeks to do so, but once you do, you are in for a ride I assure you.

The book starts of with the seige of one of the last two remaining cities opposed to the Malazan empire and with it a whole cast of characters doing and talking about things you know completely nothing about. It is here that many of the newcomers to the series including myself get confused and frustrated, but if you hang on things start making sense, you begin seeing the plot unfold as the characters become interesting so does your interest in the book, after that its an awesome journey to the end.

We are also introduced to the series' magical system. The wizards and Witches have access to other dimensions known as Warrens, from where they draw there power from and also acts as a personal Haven for them. At first nothing is explained about them but as you go on you begin to understand and appreciate it.

Then my favorite part of the book, the gods, I absolutely loved how there was seemingly a game been played by the gods using the characters as their pawns and with those gods was the god Oppon god of chance.. I will leave it to you to read and appreciate them.

I am honestly terrible at reviews, but I don't understand why DLP doesn't seem to have liked this series as I only found one thread with two posts in it.

Either way I highly recommend this book and give it a full 5/5.

 

Just finished the second book of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn (Stone of Farewell) and thoroughly enjoyed it, for the most part. It's not the fastest paced series ever written, although God knows I've read longer books. And I swiftly lose patience with songs in high fantasy, so that's a minus. Still excellent though.

@Kevo: I'm on the third book at the moment, and I second the recommendation. The confusion doesn't necessarily let up - I'm about halfway through and I'm not sure whether the vagueness is me forgetting stuff from the first book, stuff that simply hasn't been explained yet, or just flawed writing. Also, the cast are wangstier than...well, almost any other character I can think of off the top of my head. The writing is good though, and the plot is very strong. I think the best thing about it though is the sense of place; everywhere feels so real, so well built.

 

Oh, I read somewhere that Deadhouse gate deals with entirely new characters and its set on the other side of the world, is it true, or do we at least get to see what happened to Rallick since at the end of Gardens of the moon he disappeared into the Deadhouse that grew in the garden(also no Kruppe?)


As for Memory, Sorrow and Thorn I have a .mobi copy but when I open them its like the book is written as poetry.
Is it like this or is it just bad formatting?
Example:"Tell me, Lord," Towser knew perfectly well.
"This is the only nail of the true Execution Tree still remaining in
Osten Ard." Prester John brought the hilt forward to his lips and
tossed it, then held the cool metal against his cheek. "This nail came
from the palm of Usires Aedon, our Savior . . . from His
hand . , ." The king's eyes, catching for a moment a strange half-
light from above, were fiery mirrors.
"And there is also the relic, of course," he said after a quiet
moment, "the finger-bone of martyred Saint Eahlstan, the dragon-
slain, right here in the hilt. ..."
There was another interval of silence, and when Towser looked up

 

I grew bored with your typical fantasy plot line - young boy/girl is special and has to make an epic journey to save the world etc... That's why I started epic fantasy books, where you do not follow just one hero, but an entire world/continent/empire.

I've recently finished the second book in the series (Deadhouse Gates) and so far it is good.

The downside (upside?) is the sheer number of main characters - so far, each book introduced ~20 characters that were important to some extent to the story telling (different POVs, sides of conflict and continents) and since it's epic fantasy, don't get too attached to them. They tend to die by the dozen (just like in the Song of Ice and Fire).

Besides the multitude of characters there's new system of belief, including gods (who can be ascended humans, ascended species from before humans or beings from other universes), as well as new ways of magic, shamanism etc. Oh yeah, there are prophecies too, but there are only few who tend to listen to them.

The Tales tend to start slowly, introducing our next bunch of characters we'll be following, revealing some plots, and plots within plots, and backstabbing within plots within those plots and the not-so-obvious Chekhov's Guns from previous books (it seems Erikson did plan in advance most of the events).

Once you get through the dull and confusing beginnings the story takes off. Be warned, it getts addictive.

So, yeah, I second recommendation. 5/5

 

Deadhouse Gates does take place elsewhere, yes, although a few of the secondary characters crop up, and then book 3 (Memories of Ice) heads back to the Bridgeburners and company. I believe the two books take place at roughly the same time, give or take. As for Rallick...not that I recall, or at least not yet. Kruppe shows up again though.

I think the series probably benefits from some solid tanking, rather than just leafing through them from time to time. Until I read your post, I'd forgotten that someone ended up in the Deadhouse at the end, for instance.

For what it's worth, I'd say that Deadhouse Gates is the best so far. Gardens was good, but D.G. felt special in a way that the first didn't, and that Memories hasn't quite recaptured just yet. There's a lot more crazy action in Memories though, and it seems to be setting up the main plot for the rest of the series.

 

I said it earlier... I don´t like Malazan because it is so complex and confusing.. I read the first 2 books and still had nearly no idea what was going on. It is an interesting read I just don´t have the endurance or will to make it through it.



I have a something for those of you who have a simpler taste in Fantasy.

The Terrach Chronicles
This is old fashioned sword and Sorcery fantasy set in an interesting world. The plot and the characters are nothing extraordinary but they still managed to hold my interest and the action scenes are good.
I think it is only available as an e-book but the postive thing is that this should cost nothing this month.

 

Really, I can get how the first book would have been largely confusing since you don't know jack about whats happening and all the names dont mean anyhting. I would have expected that the second book considering you read and finished the first would have been relatively easier.

Especially the second book, my God the chain of dogs story line was awesome, I hope at the very least you enjoyed it.

You're right espescially since the first book could work well as a standalone, heh lucky for me I have all ten of them.
I just finished Deadhouse gate and it was Amazing, honestly I am in awe of the author that he could make me hate a character(Felisin) and still care about her at the same time is an achievement few authors have managed to do for me.

I would like your opinion on the Chain of dogs and Whirlwind storyline, in the end did you like me end up cheering for the Empire that I had come to hate then understand then like, even though the cause for the uprising was just?

 

I can definitely see how new readers would be turned off continuing the series, but it's well worth it. Favourite books in the series would have to be Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice. DG was awesome, particularly the ending, but it was MoI that really convinced me to continue to read the series. It's the first time that you truly begin to see the sheer size of the world and the weight of history behind events in the 'present' of the novel.

 

The Chain of Dogs plot was outstanding, because it genuinely felt like something out of real life. The blend of defiance, heroism and ultimately tragedy...it's incredibly well done. Watching Duiker change over the course of the march was wonderful.

On the other hand, you've got the Path of Hands plot, which arguably has the more engaging characters, and Felisin's transformation was a real shock. Totally didn't see that coming, especially from such a world class bitch. I want to see more of Icarium though.

On a more general note, I really like the Warren system. It has just the right balance between explaining the magic and leaving it mysterious (at least, it does thus far, two books down and two thirds of the way through the third. I realise that may change later on though). For all that I love books by Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, they do rationalise magic to the point where it doesn't feel magical to me anymore, no matter how awesome it is.

 

Basically this.

I want to reread the whole thing again, but i know that i'll have to leave some serious reading time for it. You cant pick it up and read a chapter and then leave it till the next time you pick it up.

Hood is fucking awesome, i mean he just bit her head off.