book recommendations RCF book club

[foucault87]

Finished the First Law trilogy recently. Overall really liked the characters and the world is interesting for sure. I felt the magic system was underexplored and the pacing was really off to me. A lot happens over the course of only 3 books. I think the first was by far the best. Felt like the second really suffered from pacing, while the third one had a deeply unsatisfying conclusion. I dont think anything was really resolved. It feels like there should be more books to properly conclude the story.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Finished the First Law trilogy recently. Overall really liked the characters and the world is interesting for sure. I felt the magic system was underexplored and the pacing was really off to me. A lot happens over the course of only 3 books. I think the first was by far the best. Felt like the second really suffered from pacing, while the third one had a deeply unsatisfying conclusion. I dont think anything was really resolved. It feels like there should be more books to properly conclude the story.

There are more books. Six of them, with presumably even more to come.

The next three are sort of stand-alone novels that bridge the gap between the first trilogy and The Age of Madness, which is the second trilogy.

In order, your next three books are Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. All three feature various characters from The First Law. Best Served Cold fleshes out Shivers quite a bit, and in The Heroes you see what's happening in the North.

 

[foucault87]

There are more books. Six of them, with presumably even more to come.

The next three are sort of stand-alone novels that bridge the gap between the first trilogy and The Age of Madness, which is the second trilogy.

In order, your next three books are Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. All three feature various characters from The First Law. Best Served Cold fleshes out Shivers quite a bit, and in The Heroes you see what's happening in the North.

That is good to hear. How is the pacing moving forward? I feel like a lot got done in each book but the threads came together really suddenly without much build up sometimes

 

[Jack Brickman]

That is good to hear. How is the pacing moving forward? I feel like a lot got done in each book but the threads came together really suddenly without much build up sometimes

The next two books are probably my two favorites in the entire series.

I never really had any issues with the pacing, so can't comment on that.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I finished Blood Meridian earlier tonight. Goddamn, man. I barely even know what to write about it. That book was like a fever dream. It started out incredibly slow, but about midway through the book becomes like a freight train as the characters descend further and further into madness, violence, and depravity.

Note: Spoilers ahead.

I'm torn on the ending, as there could be a dozen different interpretations. I'm still not even sure if the judge was real or if he was the devil, or if he was something more abstract like the manifestation of the evil of men, or if this was a Fight Club scenario and the kid and the judge are one and the same. He's a Joker-esque character at any rate, setting fires to watch the world burn, and he always manages to bring the worst out of everyone he interacts with, save for the kid and the ex-priest.

There's also the matter of the frequent children that are mentioned as going missing in various towns that the partisans in the book visit. Those were obviously included for a reason, and very clearly tie into what the men find in the outhouse at the end of the book, something that brings men who have surely seen some awful things to horrified silence. I'm of the opinion that the kid (or man at that point) being gathered into the "immense and terrible flesh" of the judge was him succumbing to evil and raping and murdering the child shortly after failing to get it up when he was solicited by the midget whore.

The question that begs, though, is whether it was the kid killing those various children all along, or if that past version of the judge actually existed and was the one doing it, or if it was someone else in the crew. The version of the judge in the final scene almost surely doesn't exist, as it's noted that he hasn't aged at all since the last time the kid saw him something like twenty or more years earlier. This further implies that the judge could not have killed the kid at the end, and so it likely wasn't the kid's body that was found in the outhouse.

The final paragraph was one of the more haunting ones I've read. I had planned to start another book before bed tonight, but I'm not sure I can do that right now because I'm still mulling over the one I just finished.

 

[FiveThous]

MTVs The Challenge just released a book on most of the champs from the show. Definitely worth a read if you’re a Challenge fan.

 

[N7RobBob]

On the 2nd Witcher book, Sword of Destiny

 

[dark2332]

Red Rising Trilogy, got extended to another trilogy.

5th book, Dark Age, reminds me why I love this series. Brutality and class issues abound. Pierce Brown does a good job of cloaking plots to make the surprise land just good enough.

I’m reading this series right now. Started Iron Gold a few days ago.

Loved the original trilogy. Absolutely loved it. However, I was considering stopping now as it’s a been bit of an adjustment to the 2nd trilogy for me.

Your post about Dark Age is giving me the fuel I need to keep moving forward.

Now, if only you had a post about Burning White to get me to finally finish the Lightbringer Series while we’re at it.

 

[dark2332]

Anyone here read Riyria Revelations?

Was about to pick it up for my next series. Either that or starting some Robin Hobb.

 

[N7RobBob]

I’m reading this series right now. Started Iron Gold a few days ago.

Loved the original trilogy. Absolutely loved it. However, I was considering stopping now as it’s a been bit of an adjustment to the 2nd trilogy for me.

Your post about Dark Age is giving me the fuel I need to keep moving forward.

Now, if only you had a post about Burning White to get me to finally finish the Lightbringer Series while we’re at it.

Always hard to recapture the same magic when telling more stories, even using the same characters. I will admit it took a bit in Iron Gold to get going, but I wanted to know what happened. It happens when original worlds get expanded on. It wasn't the same, but that's not a bad thing. I felt the same way with the middle of the Expanse series. The book where the perspective shifts to all the ship members didn't hook me, but the Laconia story line killed it.

I even got my wife into the series and talking with her about the twist and turns was awesome. She also didn't get through the 4th book, but has re-read the original trilogy becuase of her love of Sevro and Victra.

The 6th book Light Bringer is slated for July 23rd. Your post just made me aware of this. So thank you.

I have not read the Lightbringer Series, just finished the Sword of Destiny and I am waiting for Blood of Elves to become available. I got around to Lost Stars by Claudia Gray which is a neat story weaved around the alderaan death star saga on Star Wars. I am a fan, but not a fanatic. The written universe is daunting, but an old coworker bought it for me and I am just getting around to it.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Anyone here read Riyria Revelations?

Was about to pick it up for my next series. Either that or starting some Robin Hobb.

I haven't read Riyria, but Hobb's stuff is awesome. I've read all nine of the Fitz and the Fool books and the Liveship books and they're all great. Liveship was probably my favorite of her series, but I'd recommend reading The Farseer Trilogy first. Maybe Tawny Man too? I can't remember if Liveship Traders is set before or after that one.

 

[dark2332]

Always hard to recapture the same magic when telling more stories, even using the same characters. I will admit it took a bit in Iron Gold to get going, but I wanted to know what happened. It happens when original worlds get expanded on. It wasn't the same, but that's not a bad thing. I felt the same way with the middle of the Expanse series. The book where the perspective shifts to all the ship members didn't hook me, but the Laconia story line killed it.

I even got my wife into the series and talking with her about the twist and turns was awesome. She also didn't get through the 4th book, but has re-read the original trilogy becuase of her love of Sevro and Victra.

The 6th book Light Bringer is slated for July 23rd. Your post just made me aware of this. So thank you.

I have not read the Lightbringer Series, just finished the Sword of Destiny and I am waiting for Blood of Elves to become available. I got around to Lost Stars by Claudia Gray which is a neat story weaved around the alderaan death star saga on Star Wars. I am a fan, but not a fanatic. The written universe is daunting, but an old coworker bought it for me and I am just getting around to it.

Yep, that’s exactly why I’m trying to get caught up now. I wanted to be ready for Light Bringer’s release assuming all goes well.

Picked up Red Rising originally at a friend’s suggesting. Plus, it falls on every recommendation list for me based on my other favorite series—Cosmere, KCC, Cradle, Dresden, etc.—but it was one of my first SciFi.

I feel as though I’m usually pretty good at predicting twists but I’ve now jaw-dropped twice in the Red Rising series. Pierce Brown is just a damn fine story teller.

Kind of funny that I am also discussing the Lightbringer series with “Light Bringer” about to come out in the Red Rising series. That’s going to confuse so many people that read these posts.

 

[dark2332]

I haven't read Riyria, but Hobb's stuff is awesome. I've read all nine of the Fitz and the Fool books and the Liveship books and they're all great. Liveship was probably my favorite of her series, but I'd recommend reading The Farseer Trilogy first. Maybe Tawny Man too? I can't remember if Liveship Traders is set before or after that one.

I appreciate that.

Assassin’s Apprentice is pretty short, too. A low-investment entry to the series. Might serve as a quick way to try it out.

I have to say, I really love popping in this thread every few months just to see recommendations. Your recommendations on Bakker this summer have added that to my list. I like to jump back and forth between reading physical copies and doing some audiobooks. I’m thinking The Darkness that Comes Before is going to be one I want to read a physical copy of.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I appreciate that.

Assassin’s Apprentice is pretty short, too. A low-investment entry to the series. Might serve as a quick way to try it out.

I have to say, I really love popping in this thread every few months just to see recommendations. Your recommendations on Bakker this summer have added that to my list. I like to jump back and forth between reading physical copies and doing some audiobooks. I’m thinking The Darkness that Comes Before is going to be one I want to read a physical copy of.

If you want a good audiobook series and haven’t read Abercrombie, The First Law is awesome. I opted to listen to it rather than re-read midway through last year and I’m midway through book eight (of nine, plus there’s a book of short stories) right now.

Steven Pacey’s narration is fantastic. He does different voices for every character and just generally delivers a banger of a performance.

 

[foucault87]

Wait theres another Lightbrigner book coming out? I thought Weeks wrapped that series up already

I randomly picked up the first of the Rirya prequel series. Went into it with 0 context and I liked the read. Have been planning on picking up the rest of the series eventually

I havent made much progress on anything in a while but I am starting The First Binding right now. Will let you guys know what I think