[Macros]

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Republic of Thieves was FAR from the worst book I've ever read.

Have you tried the Redemption of Althalus?

[Dadding]

Eek, lots of hate for the next two books, so should I just move on to bigger and better things after Book 1(like say Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, or David Gemmell) or stick it out?

[amphibian]

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Republic of Thieves was FAR from the worst book I've ever read. No, it didn't live up to the heights set by tLoLL or even the loeer bar of RSURS, but it folded in more of the backstory and set the stage for book 4 rather nicely. I'll admit that I know I'm in the minority for this one, but can't we agree that the series is still holding itself better than the Demon Cycle at least?

Speaking of controversial books, I'm a little under halfway through Blood of Elves, and you guys greatly exaggerated the flaws of this work. It's not perfect, but as long as it's read as book 3 and not book 1 characters and events make perfect sense.

The proper reading order really matters for Witcher.

The Lynch critiques are often coming from those who got really excited about the first book and got crushed by the second book having major flaws enough to crap all over the third not being some kind of cure all.

[Itwæs Nom]

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Republic of Thieves was FAR from the worst book I've ever read. No, it didn't live up to the heights set by tLoLL or even the loeer bar of RSURS, but it folded in more of the backstory and set the stage for book 4 rather nicely. I'll admit that I know I'm in the minority for this one, but can't we agree that the series is still holding itself better than the Demon Cycle at least?

Haven't read the Demon Cycle, but yeah I agree that Republic wasn't that bad, although mostly thanks to the theatre storyline which I enjoyed much more than the main one.

[QuickTidal]

Dadding, on 08 June 2017 - 12:40 PM, said:

Eek, lots of hate for the next two books, so should I just move on to bigger and better things after Book 1(like say Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, or David Gemmell) or stick it out?

I'd read the first 80-100 pages of Book 2...and if it doesn't impress you...give up. Book 3 will not help any of the problems from Book 2, and instead creates a whole new slew of its own problems. Lynch should have course corrected in Book 3 from Book 2 (after middling-to-dismal reviews of RSURS), and instead doubled down on going in a new direction entirely, which also failed miserably. Book 2 made me question my love of the series, Book 3 made my drop it entirely...and unless book 4 gets RAVE (Like this is the best damned book in years!) reviews...I refuse to continue the series.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 08 June 2017 - 12:55 PM, said:

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Speaking of controversial books, I'm a little under halfway through Blood of Elves, and you guys greatly exaggerated the flaws of this work. It's not perfect, but as long as it's read as book 3 and not book 1 characters and events make perfect sense.

The proper reading order really matters for Witcher.

It's not exaggeration when BLOOD just flat out doesn't work as bk2 yet was marketed and sold as bk 2, in Canada at least.

If to remedy that i would have to read bk 3, then go back and reread bk 2... can't say i'm tempted when i have so much else to read for the first time.

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Republic of Thieves was FAR from the worst book I've ever read. No, it didn't live up to the heights set by tLoLL or even the loeer bar of RSURS, but it folded in more of the backstory and set the stage for book 4 rather nicely. I'll admit that I know I'm in the minority for this one, but can't we agree that the series is still holding itself better than the Demon Cycle at least?

End of Disc One, on 07 June 2017 - 11:31 PM, said:

Yeah I'd put Gentleman Bastard way ahead of the Demon Cycle

Agreed in the sense that bk1 of Bastards is far far better than bk 1 of Demon and to the extent that both series sort of fall apart after than, Lynch is a better author/read.

amphibian, on 08 June 2017 - 12:55 PM, said:

The Lynch critiques are often coming from those who got really excited about the first book and got crushed by the second book having major flaws enough to crap all over the third not being some kind of cure all.

Would argue bk 3 was crapped all over because it was a bad book, not because it didn't fix the flaws in bk 2. I found bk 2 was weak, disappointing certainly, but not so bad that i wasn't willing to give bk 3 a chance.

Itwæs Nom, on 08 June 2017 - 01:25 PM, said:

... I agree that Republic wasn't that bad, although mostly thanks to the theatre storyline which I enjoyed much more than the main one.

Hated it. Predictable, boring, the characters acting like idiots for the most part with no redeeming elements, and as flashbacks go it added little or nothing we didn't already know.

QuickTidal, on 08 June 2017 - 01:31 PM, said:

I'd read the first 80-100 pages of Book 2...and if it doesn't impress you...give up. Book 3 will not help any of the problems from Book 2, and instead creates a whole new slew of its own problems. Lynch should have course corrected in Book 3 from Book 2 (after middling-to-dismal reviews of RSURS), and instead doubled down on going in a new direction entirely, which also failed miserably. Book 2 made me question my love of the series, Book 3 made my drop it entirely...and unless book 4 gets RAVE (Like this is the best damned book in years!) reviews...I refuse to continue the series.

This.

[Gabriele]

Macros, on 08 June 2017 - 05:44 AM, said:

JPK, on 07 June 2017 - 11:00 PM, said:

Republic of Thieves was FAR from the worst book I've ever read.

Have you tried the Redemption of Althalus?

Damn, I tried to bury that, together with Wizard's First Rule, in the deepest level of my brain where no neuronal impulse would ever go again.

[Macros]

have sex with the child cat!

[polishgenius]

Redemption of Althalus is nothing compared to the series Eddings did after that, The Dreamers.

[Macros]

oh I've heard its absolutely dire.

I think my rents bought me one of it unknowingly years ago, I made about 20 pages in.

[Gabriele]

polishgenius, on 08 June 2017 - 06:43 PM, said:

Redemption of Althalus is nothing compared to the series Eddings did after that, The Dreamers.

I knew better than to touch another Eddings after Althalus. Though the Elenium was a candy read.

[Mentalist]

"Republic of Thieves" was perfectly okay until the last 20-15 pages. Then that ending and especially the "sequel hook" was just a totally unnecessary WTF moment.

It's still nowhere near "engineer trilo" or John Marco-level of bad, imnsho. But then again, I never hailed "Lies" as the best thing in fantasy since Malaz, so my expectations for the series were always very modest.

[Tiste Simeon]

I liked John Marco when I first read him. Don't remember anything too bad. In fact I liked how you changed your mind a few times about who was the "baddies" etc.

[Mentalist]

"Tyrants and King's" was just plain poor writing. Book 2, where the villain spends the whole book telling you how awesome his master plan is, as everything slides into place BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DRIVEN BY THEIR TRAGIC FLAWS(the fact that you're basically beaten over the head with. Repeatedly) frustrated me almost to the point of throwing the book against the wall (Full disclosure: I detest the "tragic flaw" trope ever since Shakespear in high school. Obtuse characters "driven by one overriding flaw" is something I just can't tolerate as a plot device).

Book 3 wasn't much better. In time I was able to completely put the idea of ever trying "the eyes of God" out of my mind, because there's so many better books to read.

[Coco with marshmallows]

succesful return from the depths of my TRP

(actually it's become more of a TRRoom, as all books presently being dumped in unused spare bedroom, but i digress)

Went with Guns of Empire (book 4 of Shadow Campaigns by Django Wexler) 100+ pages in and enjoying it greatly.

[Traveller]

So, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, The Ocean at the end of the Lane, Monarch of the Glen, and Black Dog.

Am I nearing the end of my Gaiman-fest or have I missed any memorable ones? I'm not sure about Stardust as I watched the movie - worth a read anyway?

[Macros]

Stardust is worth a read for sure, if frustratingly short!
How the Marquis got his coat back is an excellent short storyou tied to Never where.

Have you read Good Omens?

[acesn8s]

Finished Senlin Ascends. It got better the more I read. I'll pick up book 2 at some point. The queue has some great books in it, so I'm picking something from there instead of buying a new book.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Traveller, on 09 June 2017 - 08:03 AM, said:

So, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, The Ocean at the end of the Lane, Monarch of the Glen, and Black Dog.

Am I nearing the end of my Gaiman-fest or have I missed any memorable ones? I'm not sure about Stardust as I watched the movie - worth a read anyway?

Sandman.

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 09 June 2017 - 12:20 PM, said:

Stardust is worth a read for sure, if frustratingly short!

Seconded. STARDUST is actually my fave of the Gaiman books. The movie was fine...but the book is WAY better.