Help me decide on a fantasy novel to read

tecweston · 04-15-2012, 06:21 PM

There are three sci-fi/fantasy books I'm considering reading next, now that I've finished the Song of Ice and Fire series. I'll probably eventually read all three but I want to know which of these are the most recommended by other MobileReaders.

- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - comes highly recommended by George RR Martin himself, and plus it's a big thick book, which I like.

- The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - this one sounds interesting and might be a lighter read after the heaviness of ASoIaF.

- The Knight by Gene Wolfe - Neil Gaiman said something about him being the greatest living fantasy writer, and I love Neil Gaiman.

JSWolf · 04-15-2012, 06:32 PM

I have a recommendation for you that is not on your list.

Drenai Saga 01 - Legend by David Gemmell.

Quote:

Druss, Captain of the Axe, was the stuff of legends. But even as the stories grew in the telling, Druss himself grew older. He turned his back on his own legend and retreated to a mountain lair to await his old enemy, death. Meanwhile, barbarian hordes were on the march. Nothing could stand in their way. Druss reluctantly agreed to come out of retirement. But could even Druss live up to his own legends?

I have read this and it's most enjoyable.

I have read The Name of the Wind and it was not bad, but I found Legend to be better.

DiapDealer · 04-15-2012, 06:52 PM

I'm just not feeling any of those three. You're on your own.

Shack70 · 04-15-2012, 07:00 PM

I listen to The Sword & Laser Podcast and they rave about "The Name of the Wind". I plan on reading that next myself.

tecweston · 04-15-2012, 08:30 PM

I was hoping I could use a Kobo discount code on one of them and have that make my decision for me. But they all appear to have agency pricing. Amazon, Kobo, and BN list them at:

The Name of the Wind: $8.99
The Rook: $12.99
The Knight: $7.99

The Rook, I think, is still in hardcover while the other two are in paperback already. So I might wait for the price to drop on The Rook.

Belfaborac · 04-16-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have a recommendation for you that is not on your list.

Drenai Saga 01 - Legend by David Gemmell.

I second that suggestion and also recommend every other book by Gemmell. Straightforward, no-nonsense heroic fantasy. Easy reads, memorable characters, good stories and good story telling.

I've read most or all his books twice, Legend three times.

graff_king · 04-16-2012, 01:06 AM

I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind and its sequel.

Dazrin · 04-16-2012, 01:31 AM

I haven't read the other two, but The Name of the Wind is now one of my favorites. I didn't like the second as much, but it was still good. Who knows how long it will be before the third comes out, there was a several year gap between the first two, so keep that in mind if it is the one you choose. I did see one interview where Patrick Rothfuss was saying the gap shouldn't be as big this time. Maybe next year?

DrNefario · 04-16-2012, 08:41 AM

I haven't read The Knight (yet - I do have the Wizard Knight omnibus on my Kindle), but I can almost guarantee that it is not what you are expecting. I'm expecting it to be excellent, but if it bears any relation to normal heroic fantasy at all, it will be, at best, tangential.

The Name of the Wind is pretty good once it gets going. I'm not familiar with The Rook.

Legend is also highly enjoyable.

tecweston · 04-16-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I haven't read The Knight (yet - I do have the Wizard Knight omnibus on my Kindle), but I can almost guarantee that it is not what you are expecting. I'm expecting it to be excellent, but if it bears any relation to normal heroic fantasy at all, it will be, at best, tangential.

This makes me want to read it more, to be honest.

tecweston · 04-16-2012, 12:00 PM

I have previews of The Knight, The Name of the Wind, and Legend on my Nook now. I believe I will read all three today and make my decision from there.

JSWolf · 04-16-2012, 04:04 PM

I've read The Name of the Wind and it's rather forgettable.

DiapDealer · 04-16-2012, 04:19 PM

Oh, I liked The Name of the Wind well enough. But I didn't enjoy what I consider to be the "world's longest prologue" enough to be strung along for two more behemoth books, before finding out that the "end" promised by Book Three is just an exercise in semantics. "Yeah... the 'end of the first trilogy.' What did you think I meant? The end of the whole Kvothe saga? Nah... I'll be milking this puppy for the next few decades."

tecweston · 04-16-2012, 11:10 PM

Okay so first I read the preview for The Name of the Wind. It was good and I think I'll read the whole thing eventually, but it didn't grab me right away.

Then I read the first chapter (of four that are in the free preview) of The Knight, and it didn't really grab me at all. It was well written but there was nothing that made me want to keep reading.

Then I opened up the free preview of The Rook and became immediately sucked in. Read the first couple chapters and then paid the $13 so I could keep reading. I couldn't wait for the paperback to come out so the price would drop.

tecweston · 04-16-2012, 11:12 PM

Oh I also read the first couple pages of Legend, but there were so many alien-looking words and names that it kinda turned me off and I couldn't concentrate on the story. I might need to be in a different mood to read it.

04-15-2012, 06:21 PM	#1
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	Help me decide on a fantasy novel to read There are three sci-fi/fantasy books I'm considering reading next, now that I've finished the Song of Ice and Fire series. I'll probably eventually read all three but I want to know which of these are the most recommended by other MobileReaders. - The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - comes highly recommended by George RR Martin himself, and plus it's a big thick book, which I like. - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - this one sounds interesting and might be a lighter read after the heaviness of ASoIaF. - The Knight by Gene Wolfe - Neil Gaiman said something about him being the greatest living fantasy writer, and I love Neil Gaiman.

04-16-2012, 04:19 PM	#13
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,569 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Oh, I liked The Name of the Wind well enough. But I didn't enjoy what I consider to be the "world's longest prologue" enough to be strung along for two more behemoth books, before finding out that the "end" promised by Book Three is just an exercise in semantics. "Yeah... the 'end of the first trilogy.' What did you think I meant? The end of the whole Kvothe saga? Nah... I'll be milking this puppy for the next few decades." Last edited by DiapDealer; 04-16-2012 at 04:21 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fantasy authors you (and I) should NEVER read	Dr. Drib	Reading Recommendations	307	08-22-2011 07:58 PM
Free online urban fantasy read from Pocket After Dark - Master of None	Susan Crealock	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	0	04-23-2011 09:17 PM
FREE: Read AMBER MAGIC first book of a fantasy series Online!	BVLarson	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	32	10-15-2010 06:33 AM
Fantasy authors you (and I) should read	dougbiss	Reading Recommendations	65	08-23-2010 10:29 AM
Your #1 Fiction read after 1901 (NO Sci-fi or Fantasy)	DoctorOhh	Reading Recommendations	14	01-09-2010 08:46 AM

04-15-2012, 06:52 PM	#3
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,569 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I'm just not feeling any of those three. You're on your own.

04-15-2012, 07:00 PM	#4
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	I listen to The Sword & Laser Podcast and they rave about "The Name of the Wind". I plan on reading that next myself.

04-15-2012, 08:30 PM	#5
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	I was hoping I could use a Kobo discount code on one of them and have that make my decision for me. But they all appear to have agency pricing. Amazon, Kobo, and BN list them at: The Name of the Wind: $8.99 The Rook: $12.99 The Knight: $7.99 The Rook, I think, is still in hardcover while the other two are in paperback already. So I might wait for the price to drop on The Rook.

04-16-2012, 01:06 AM	#7
graff_king Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 1600 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: PA Device: Nook STR, Kindle 3 wifi, i4s, htc evo, BB 9810, moto xoom,NC	I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind and its sequel.

04-16-2012, 01:31 AM	#8
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,729 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	I haven't read the other two, but The Name of the Wind is now one of my favorites. I didn't like the second as much, but it was still good. Who knows how long it will be before the third comes out, there was a several year gap between the first two, so keep that in mind if it is the one you choose. I did see one interview where Patrick Rothfuss was saying the gap shouldn't be as big this time. Maybe next year?

04-16-2012, 08:41 AM	#9
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,202 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I haven't read The Knight (yet - I do have the Wizard Knight omnibus on my Kindle), but I can almost guarantee that it is not what you are expecting. I'm expecting it to be excellent, but if it bears any relation to normal heroic fantasy at all, it will be, at best, tangential. The Name of the Wind is pretty good once it gets going. I'm not familiar with The Rook. Legend is also highly enjoyable.

04-16-2012, 12:00 PM	#11
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	I have previews of The Knight, The Name of the Wind, and Legend on my Nook now. I believe I will read all three today and make my decision from there.

04-16-2012, 04:04 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,743 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've read The Name of the Wind and it's rather forgettable.

04-16-2012, 11:10 PM	#14
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	Okay so first I read the preview for The Name of the Wind. It was good and I think I'll read the whole thing eventually, but it didn't grab me right away. Then I read the first chapter (of four that are in the free preview) of The Knight, and it didn't really grab me at all. It was well written but there was nothing that made me want to keep reading. Then I opened up the free preview of The Rook and became immediately sucked in. Read the first couple chapters and then paid the $13 so I could keep reading. I couldn't wait for the paperback to come out so the price would drop.

04-16-2012, 11:12 PM	#15
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	Oh I also read the first couple pages of Legend, but there were so many alien-looking words and names that it kinda turned me off and I couldn't concentrate on the story. I might need to be in a different mood to read it.

Advert

Advert