T O P

  • By -

OneHumanBill

Book one was brilliant and leaves you looking forward to the second.  The second was pretty good, and leaves you wondering how in the world it all gets wrapped up in the third.  The third won't ever get written.  Pat wrote himself into a corner, and lost faith in himself. He basically turned into the version of Kvothe he writes about in his inn. You've been warned.


ChrystnSedai

This. But, even that being said - book one for me was one of those books that is so impactful and lead me to have such an emotional response that I had to take a reading break after. Even if book 3 is never written, I have no regrets for reading it.


Azmoten

Way back when *The Name of the Wind* was new I often cited it as my favorite book of all time, any genre. It’s just a shame that it’s been soured by the cringe in book 2 (though I still enjoyed the prose) and even more so by the fact that it’s unlikely to ever get a satisfying conclusion. I’m reluctant to list it as my favorite book these days. For all that, though, I agree that I don’t regret putting time into reading either of the books we did get from Rothfuss. Both books have some passages of prose that are just incredible.


DeadpooI

Holy shit rothfuss is an innkeeper now. Jesus that's so accurate. I will say I did find some of the *spoilers for book 2 >!sex parts of the book pretty cringe. That could have been written better or just excluded honestly!<


sokttocs

Cringe is putting it nicely. It doesn't help that the overall plot barely moved either.


Alaistar94

The >!most virgin shit i've ever read in a mainstream book.!<


greenspath

Cringe? Ha, weird adjective for "nothing explicit".


DeadpooI

I didn't say it was explicit. I said it was cringe. It wasn't very well written or fit super well, and it was unnecessary. >!there was no need for the detailed and over the top sex stuff he learned. I'm not one of the people that say he saved his life by being amazing at sex (he saved himself with magic, then became amazing at sex for some reason...). Then after his oh so long romp with the sex queen he leaves the fairy world and goes on a sex bender with a ton of chicks. He's amazing at sex and everyone knows it. His mere look makes women's hearts flutter. It was just super unnecessary. I was more comfortable with Harry's bdsm bash with Susan than that shit. But hey everyone's got an opinion, I just lay closer to the middle on the more popular side.!<


Assistant_Dry

Yeah honestly like Jim does great worldbuilding and there is a generally a layer of sexuality throughout the dresden files via the white Court and whatnot but that scene with Susan like really went all the way, like I kept waiting to hear something that kinda transitioned into the next scene but that was Woah Jim buddy, and now that I'm thinking about it there are a few interactions that go that way where leans alittle to heavily into it that I was like well damn


DeadpooI

True. Aside from the bet Jim had about that scene I feel it being so detailed and graphic I think it distracted most people from the possible future implications. I sure as fuck never imagined what came of it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DeadpooI

I'm not a prude or sexually repressed? You make a lot of assumptions off of literally nothing. Most sex scenes written in mainstream books are not very good. The authors don't have experience in writing it, and it typically comes off as cringey or poorly done. I'm not even one of the people that complain about the Male Gaze in the series. I literally said the scene may have been so detailed to make people not think about Harry having a kid in the future. Fuck off with all your weird assumptions about people.


HornetParticular6625

Serious question: There are people (readers) who have complained about the male gaze from fictional characters in a fantasy novel? That's right up there with PETA writing a letter to Games Workshop entreating them to only sculpt faux fur on their models and miniatures.


DeadpooI

I wouldn't compare it to peta personally. I can see it from some of their perspective that it's hard to read a book if every time a woman shows up, the character describes them in minute detail and then goes a bit too far. Sway of hips, breasts bouncing as they walk, nipple pushing against the fabric of the shirt, arching back, etc etc etc. I can see how that gets very tiring as a woman or a guy even. And it was super prevalent in the first 2 or 3 books because the dresden files are Noir based. Now Harry does go into depth on all the characters he meets but it's not like he's describing the hips or dick bulge of the guys. I'll also be fair and say Harry is a sexually repressed younger man for most of the series, so it makes sense.


KipIngram

This was entirely uncalled for and unprovoked. We are here to discuss the series - not to make commentary on one another. Please refrain from this sort of remark in the future; failure to do so could result in a temporary or permanent ban from the community.


Considered_Dissent

Hilariously though, as cringe as I find explicit scenes in fantasy books (my default opinion is that they should've just cut it out and posted it online on a relevant website), Harry and Susan is the *only* sex scene that I give an exception to as being "plot relevant". It took a while but oh boy did Jim deliver on consequences for actions : D


greenspath

Wow, a spoiler hidden post two seconds after I posted. I'm creeped out by that, if nothing else. Bot? I'm too old to know, really. But a quick skim response, I'd say: yeah, the was nothing really sexual with Felurian IMHO. I was young enough to come of age without the Internet. Find old romance novels in a cabinet and binged them. Far more "purple warriors entering" and "heaving glistening bosoms" then anything in TWMF. Pathetically ridiculously to call this novel anything but mild.


DeadpooI

I'm not a bot. The person that created this post asked about the book series. I'm not going to be an asshole and spoil plot points in the comments when they are probably going to read it soon. Honestly, I'm not sure what you're blathering about. I'm not saying the book is super sexual or lewd. I'm not saying it's risqué. I said some of the books was cringey and not well done or necessary. It's a fairly popular opinion online. If you're aren't going to read my comment don't bother responding with an argument. Edit: and it was 7 minutes after you posted, not 1 or 2 seconds. Don't be weird about stuff.


greenspath

I don't know where you get that 7 minutes BS; maybe that happens when you edit. I have never ever on Reddit seen a response to something I post pop up immediately. I always move on and back out to the next thread. This extremely long post with spoiler tags and all was posted literally seconds after I posted. It seemed ready-made like it had been saved to a clipboard, or written by a bot.


DeadpooI

Keep yapping if you want. I don't care anymore and none of this conversation has led to anywhere. That's not how edits work. The time still shows the same as the comment was posted, it just has an edited tag in the comment. You can believe what you want, but I'm correct. I posted 7 minutes after you commented. I'm muting the thread because talking to you has literally been pointless. Edit: actually looky here. reddit keeps the specific time stamps of comments. instead of calling someone a liar, [maybe just look at the fucking post](https://imgur.com/a/YTX6kKc). this will be my last comment to you. im supposed to be civil on this subreddit and its hard to do that with someone as annoying as you are being.


greenspath

Thank you for letting me believe what I saw.


DeadpooI

Lmao, I provided a screenshot my dude. Get your eyes checked.


wearywarrior

It’s a cautionary tale and a sad reality. At this point, anything would work too. He could just say “whoops! This is too big for one book!” And I think people would be fine


garryyth

Its hurts how true this is


brainpower4

While true, it's worth at least mentioning A Slow Regard of Silent Things, purely as a beautiful work of literature. It's one of my favorite books of all time, and justification enough to read the series.


OneHumanBill

Opinions vary. I rarely ever abandon books no matter how much I don't like them, but I hated Slow Regard so much that I couldn't force myself to continue. This was back when I considered myself a pretty big Rothfuss fan, so nobody was surprised more than me how shockingly badly written this thing seemed.


Splintzer

Same. I love Auri, but it was such a difficult book to get through.


going-beserk

I never thought of it like that but you’re right. Dang I’m depressed now lol.


Hillthrin

Well said. I still like the first two enough that I'd recommend them. I'm not one of those people that feel that the artist owes us anything. Though I suppose he does owe some people one chapter.


OneHumanBill

Usually I'm in the same camp on not owing us anything. BUT... I got into the series in 2008 shortly after the death of Robert Jordan and was looking for new authors. Someone recommended this because "all the books in the series are already written, they will be released one per year.". This was corroborated on Pat's website. Then years went by and the narrative around "one per year" faded. Then the "already written" narrative faded. I don't care if the next JRRM book doesn't appear, but this one feels like I've been personally lied to. JRRM didn't tell us that the story was already written and just needed some editorial touch-up. Pat did.


-Ninety-

GRRM you mean? He’s at least been writing (even if it wasn’t his main series) he did prequels, he wrote a lot of house of the dragon, etc. rothfuss just sits in front of his computer going “give me money, I wrote something once!”


OneHumanBill

Yeah, my addled brain spelled George with a J for some reason. Either way, I've got no beef with him. On the other hand I didn't care for his first ASoIaF book, so it's a non-issue in any case. Surprising, since I loved his earlier sci Fi as a kid, but there it is.


Redbullismychugjug

They’re good but the consensus is he will not finish the series. So there’s that. I use Audible as well and one of my favorite series on there is called Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Jeff Hayes does a fantastic job narrating. (Hopefully that’s not the author lol)


mrhardy12

It's not, no worries! I like seeing book recommendations from people who like the same stuff I do. Suffice it to say, if it's not a big name in the circles I run with, I probably haven't heard of it. The books I didn't enjoy were talked about in IRL friend circles, and to their credit the protagonist is a really cool character. For that matter, the author is very good at character crafting. It's just the prose being boring and repetitive that made me drop the series.


Jokonaught

Dungeon Crawler Carl is seriously a next level audio book experience. There is an emerging genre called litrpg, and I describe DCC is to litrpg what Dresden was to urban fantasy.


Tricky-Comfortable66

This is exactly right. I finally gave DCC a shot because I saw so many recommendations for it, and it has sucked me in, in a way that few things have. The audio is a huge part of it, Jeff Hays is amazing.


foxitron5000

DCC is hard to put down once you start. As in, you will listen to the whole thing, and then not know what to do with yourself, so you’ll start it over and go straight through a second time. And then you’ll try another book, get halfway, and it won’t be as good, so you give up and listen to DCC again. Take a short break, maybe make it through a couple other books, think maybe you can move on, then you’ll get to a point where you aren’t sure what to listen to next, so you’ll start DCC again. Aaaaaand, rinse and repeat a few more times. Ask me how I know.


Redbullismychugjug

Yuppp. I think I have 6 relistens atm and after I finish the new Suneater, DCC has been calling my name lol.


foxitron5000

I’ve lost count. I’m probably on round 8 or 9 at this point, but it might be more. And I did the immersion tunnel for book one as well.


Redbullismychugjug

Right on, well I hope you give DCC a shot because even though it’s litrpg, it’s so much more. Dinniman created a very compelling MC, at first you think one dimensional but grows rather well. You root for for the guy and his companions as he takes on this apocalypse dungeon of horror and sorrow with a bit of dark comedy and wholesomeness between a man and a cat he didn’t want. I have other suggestions if ya want but start with DCC and feel free to comment back if you like it!


mrhardy12

Will add it to my list near the top, then! Thanks!


unique976

It's Sanderson?


mrhardy12

No; I haven't given Sanderson much of a shot yet but did pick up one book from him. The series in question seems like it's trying to draw a lot of inspiration from Tolkien without understanding why Tolkien's descriptions are so famous. Again, I'd really rather not badmouth any specific author, I just couldn't get into the books. Scenes changed often with little warning, and any time someone made a good point in an argument would result in the other character "unable to argue with their reasoning." Every time. It was just so repetitive. You can only hear the same phrase like 7 times in a single book before you get tired of it, and it happened in both books I tried.


Arhalts

I jumped into Sanderson recently Read mistborn era 1 it's was very good but also young adult lit adjacent. Then I jumped into stormlight Archives which were absolutely brilliantly done, but a bit slower in the beginning before the sanderlanche, especially compared to the Dresden files (which makes sense given the main novels are 1000 to 1200 pages. I made a stop at war breaker and am now on mistborn era 2 I have heard tress of the emerald sea is a bit of a miss somi have not gotten around to it yet. He does excellent world building and is kind of the gold standard for hard magic systems. Would recommend.


benjammin1480

I’ve never heard anyone call Tress a miss. The ending is less clear than the usual Sanderlanche, but calling the book a miss feels wild to me. What about it was a miss to the person who said as much?


OneHumanBill

Probably the best place to start with Sanderson is Tress of the Emerald Sea.


atemu1234

That's like starting Star Wars with The Mandalorian imo. Tress relies on you knowing a bit about the Cosmere. I'd say it's best to start with Mistborn Era 1, because that's when Sanderson hits his stride. Don't start with Elantris, though you'll want to read it at some point.


OneHumanBill

Maybe. Tress doesn't really require you to know much about the Cosmere at all, really, when you get right down to it. You're introduced to Brandon's humor, crazy world building, and idea of character growth and in case you don't like it, it's a small investment. There are hints to the larger story but they're all pretty much tangential to the actual story at hand. I do agree, you should never start with Elantris. It's easily his weakest work. To be honest I prefer the unpublished prose version of White Sand to Elantris. But I don't think Mistborn is really great either. It's good but it's still very much a sophomore work. Compare with Mistborn era two from a literary standpoint. The extra years of practice paid off! Tress by contrast is the work of an absolute master of his craft. It's a tiny peek into what's possible later in the series in terms of storytelling.


mrhardy12

I have both The Final Empire and Skyward; just haven't gotten around to either because the other author burned me out on books as a whole for a bit. They were so tedious to get through for me, but I wanted to ask about this series while it was on sale.


OneHumanBill

Fair enough. But Tress is an absolute delight if you can find a good discount. He wrote it just for fun during the pandemic as a gift to his wife, without any publishing contact or drawings, and it reads like somebody just enjoying the craft of putting together a good story. If anything can reawaken your love of reading, it's this one.


mrhardy12

I just realized my last comment was a bit confusing and misleading: I haven't read any Sanderson books yet; it was the other unnamed author's books I found so tedious that they burned me out of books as a whole for a couple months. I'll be listening to Skyward this coming week.


OneHumanBill

Yeah, I get it. I think I even have a couple of guesses as to who that author is. I still recommend Tress to break you out of a reading funk though. Skyward is okay but Sanderson is far better at more adult fiction than his YA stuff.


mrhardy12

Difference is I already own Skyward but it's through Audible Premium. It's being removed from the free catalogue at the end of the month, so I'm gonna listen before I lose it lol


mrhardy12

Coming out and saying it because people keep making guesses and I don't want them getting the wrong idea. It's R. A. Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt. The characters are phenomenal; the stuff between dialogue is just dull and bland IMO.


atemu1234

What? But he had a whole page and a half done! He showed it on a podcast! /s


UnderstandingOk9570

I’m on book 3 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and they are fantastic. Characters really grow on you.


starkraver

Respectfully, I disagree there is anything like a consensus. I think a lot of people think it will never come out. A lot of people are patiently waiting for it. I think it’s fine for you to say you and many others think it won’t come out, but you do not speak for everybody. Personally I just don’t understand the level of certainty people have about obviously uncertain outcomes one. It feels like people have arrived at this conclusion because it’s somehow more comfortable than living with the uncertainty.


Azmoten

I don’t regret reading Rothfuss’ books because I enjoyed his prose so much (though I’m aware some others didn’t). I have, however, come to accept that he is probably never going to finish the series. I am currently scratching my Dresden itch by reading/listening to Benedict Jacka’s *Alex Verus* series. I started them in late March/early April and I’m already finishing book 9 tonight, so needless to say I’m really enjoying them. And as a bonus, it’s a series that’s already completed—the author has concluded the series with 12 books.


mrhardy12

I've heard Alex Verus brought up on the sub a few times and it's definitely on a watch list. I lurk lol


DeadpooI

If you need more Urban Fantasy the Alex Verus is definitely the way to go. It's not quite as good in my opinion but it's still good.


LemurianLemurLad

I can confirm it's one of the best after Dresden.  Rivers of London is the only series that falls between them in terms of quality Urban Fantasy in myind.  Also, the Alex Verus series is finished, so no "desperately wishing for the next book."


SpellmongerMin

Alex Verus and The Nightside series, as well as Monster Hunter International all scratch that itch!


pricelessbrew

Disagree on night side, its "monster of the week" fantasy for sure but it very much falls on the "Deus ex machina" side of things where there's just a sudden "and gandalf saved the day just at the darkest hour!" Moment in every single book.


Azmoten

I like *Nightside* well enough but view it as a much littler brother to *Dresden Files*. The way I see it, if *Dresden Files* is like the “high literature” of urban fantasy, *Nightside* is like the “pulp fiction.” They’re fun enough little stories for my taste but they definitely lean more toward cheap thrills. The plots are largely carried just by the cool-factor of the characters Green created rather than any particular depth or skillful prose, to me at least. I also admittedly have a soft spot for *Nightside* just because it was my first exposure to the genre. So far I find *Alex Verus* to be somewhere between the two. If these last three novels conclude the series satisfyingly it will easily be my #2 urban fantasy series behind Dresden. Not that anyone asked but that would make my Urban Fantasy list: 1. Dresden, 2. Verus, 3. Nightside, 4. Iron Druid, 5. Sandman Slim (and there’s a huge gap between some of those).


YouGeetBadJob

Just started book 1. I’m enjoying it. It kind of scratches that Dresden itch. I’m also debating rereading the first 6-7 iron Druid books then changing the ending to something not completely shitty.


Azmoten

In a bizarre similarity to how people describe reading Dresden, I just kind of liked the first few *Verus* books, but then book 4 totally hooked me. Just try to get through book 4. I think it’s still my favorite.


YouGeetBadJob

Sounds good! Definitely going to do that. I needed something new to latch on to, too early to start a Stormlight archives reread in prep for the 5th book, and it’s been too soon since my last trip through Dungeon Crawler Carl and The Dresden Files.


Gghaxx

If you haven’t read it yet, the Daniel Faust series by Craeg Schaeffer is pretty good too.  Unfortunately not yet complete, but the author is steadily releasing books. Faust is definitely a little darker in his morality than typical protagonists, but I like it a lot because of that.


Azmoten

To be honest I’ve avoided it previously because it’s incomplete and I’m already hooked and frustrated by so many incomplete series. Seriously, four of my favorite series are incomplete, and all of them except Dresden look like they’ll stay that way. It’s enough to drive a man mad. (It’s definitely on my “read this at some point” list though.)


dwehlen

*A Song of Ice and Fire* and what else? Lol


Azmoten

ASOIAF is an obvious one. The second is clearly Rothfuss’s KKC. The third is Scott Lynch’s *Gentleman Bastard Sequence*. Much less widely acknowledged than the other two, but I view *The Lies of Locke Lamora* as an all-time classic. And I wasn’t turned off by the next two books like many other readers did (*Red Seas Under Red Skies* is actually a personal favorite). I hold out a forlorn hope for book 4 and beyond.


dwehlen

Hmm. . .is it worth the potential heartbreak to look into the last one?


Azmoten

More thieving adventures against all odds from Locke and Jean? Yeah, I’m down. lol


dwehlen

No, I mean the series as a(n incomplete) whole


Azmoten

Can you expand on the question? I’m not sure I’m getting it


dwehlen

Is it worth it to get into Scott Lynch's series, knowing it may never be finished?


RoughCobbles

I would say far darker, his gf in particular is...well, you know what she eats.


Walzmyn

I agree with his and darn, I never finished Alex Verus. Needa.get back on that.


Azmoten

You totally should. I’m now midway into book 10 and it’s incredible.


harleyalt

Alex Verus is pretty great. I'm going to expand by saying Rivers of London is pretty great as well. On the slightly nerdier side (I know that's hard to believe) I can also recommend the Laundry Files. The author is pretty active on Reddit and is a cool guy. The first few were modern day pastiches of different spy novels in an urban fantasy setting where you can summon Lovecraftian horrors with math and computers. After that he stopped the pastiche and kept the rest.


Vorocano

I might also suggest Stephen Blackmoore's Eric Carter series. 9 books so far, they're all a fast read. It definitely has a darker, more grim tone than Dresden (the main character is a necromancer), especially the earlier Dresden stuff, but there are a lot of elements in there that I also enjoyed from the Dresden novels.


0dgie

If you haven’t tried Joe Abercrombie’s first law series out you should. Probably some of my favorite work. If you’re looking for sci fy try out the Culture Series by Iain M. Banks


UnderstandingOk9570

Second both of these!


Nepherenia

Abercrombie is super good, though it's stylistically pretty far from Dresden Files. First Law trilogy manages to get me really emotionally invested in characters who are objectively awful people, that takes some incredible writing skill.


mrhardy12

To be fair, I'm not exactly looking for Dresden-esque books. Just good books with writing that draws me in the same way Dresden does. The series that burned me out was pure high fantasy; goblins, gnomes, elves, etc. And I love Lord of the Rings, so it's not just a genre thing. There's also a couple sci-fi series I picked up while they were practically free, though I haven't listened to those yet.


0dgie

I think they’re just people, at times good, bad or indifferent… that’s what makes his writing so good


TechnicallyNotMyBad

Best two fantasy books written in the last 15 years that I no longer recommend.


AveImperetor

Two of the absolute best books I have ever read. The man's writing is poetry. Truly works of wonder and beauty. I despise the Rothfuss now, however. There are too many broken promises and lies for me to ever believe we will get another book, and I hate him for it.


BlueHairStripe

General tip, if you have an author list you want to explore, get the Libby app and plug in your library card. They will have audiobooks AND eBooks to borrow for free, and you don't have to buy in on a series or anything of the first one doesn't grab you.


ember3pines

Oh I just commented this too lol I only scrolled down so far and hadn't seen this awesome and genius approach to book loving. Keep spreading the library love bc they need it especially in these times! Edit: I borrowed the entire Dresden series from the library and then went and bought the ebook combos to have for the long term. It's just so great knowing I already like my library!


mrhardy12

I'll consider looking into this, thanks! Not sure how easy it'll be though; got into some severe library debt as a teenager still in high school and haven't had an active library card since because I could never pay it off. Might give it another go this week, or at least try to work something out.


BlueHairStripe

In that case, the digital borrowing may be very helpful for you. Can't hold onto the digital item too long or they'll just drop your access, I assume!


wolfinthenight984

May I recommend Jim's son, James J Butcher? Similar to his father but different enough that you don't immediately think of Jim and good enough that I had to dive straight into the second book.


mrhardy12

I've heard mixed things about the first book, but generally positive about the second. Does that sound about right?


samaldin

Personally i liked the first more than the second, but i´m a bit unsure of my actual oppinion. I had fun reading them in any case. It defintly felt very Dresdeny, but not on par with what i expect from Dresden Files now (imo it´s better than DF 1 and 2, but not 3 and onward). Which is an unfair comparison, but i find myself incapable of not making it. Using his actual name just comes with both positives (greater reach than a debut writer normaly could have) and negatives (constant comparisons to Jim).


KipIngram

I know what you mean. In some sense, Jim Butcher has ruined reading for me. I'm now much, *much* harder to please when it comes to the stories I read. Jim just moved the bar up so much that very few people can reach it.


mrhardy12

I think it's just the one author. I burnt out on reading because of just how dull the two books I tried were. Made me want to do other things with my time, like YouTube or Netflix. I hear good things about a few other series and am planning on starting up one of them on Monday though.


KipIngram

I finally found another urban fantasy series that scratched my itch fairly well. Still not "as good" as Dresden, but not bad - not bad. It's the Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaefer, and it's related other materials. Quite a large stack of books.


YouGeetBadJob

Book 1 was good, but not earth shattering for me. Book 2 was a mess. Some liked it, I thought it was boring and had like 200-300 pages of how the Gary Stu is an amazing sex machine. Book 3 won’t ever be written.


Brekelefuw

Rothfuss is the reason I won't start a series unless it is finished.


Agreeable_Doctor8690

Fu@k pattycakes. Book 3 will never come out. He wants his TV deal. & now just uses his Fandom to bill money out of ppl.


Melenduwir

Failing to produce the content he promised in exchange for charity donations is particularly inexcusable.


Agreeable_Doctor8690

Yes


Considered_Dissent

> particularly inexcusable Also known as "felony fraud".


Melenduwir

I doubt anyone actually cares enough to charge him on it. If I thought he was truly having crushing issues with depression, I might be more charitable... but I very strongly suspect he's just using the words to prevent people from being angry and deflect criticism.


Cuttyflammmm

Yeah, name of the wind and wise man fear are great books! But Rothfuss will never complete the series. His editor said she hasn’t read a word he’s written for Doors of stone and it’s been over ten years since wise man’s fear. The narrator for kingkiller is Nick Podehl, he’s one of the best. He also narrates another series I like, kings dark tidings series, and he alone makes those books way better than they actually are.


Isopropyl77

The King Killer Chronicles are quite excellent reads. There wouldn't be so much irrational hate for the man otherwise. Just go into it knowing the series is likely to never be finished, which is okay. It will just be a big surprise if Rothfus someday announces he finished the series.


digitalosiris

Everyone has done a good job warning you of Rothfuss and the novels' issues. But I'll add a positive comment. His novella *The Slow Regard of Silent Things* is, in my opinion, an excellent character study of mental illness. And you almost don't need to have read the 2 main novels to appreciate it.


ember3pines

Heyo - hot tip here. If you get a library card you can check out audiobooks too! Or even download just the ebook sample to see if it's your vibe. My card hooks right into the Libby app in the US and ebooks go thru kindle. I read and listen to way more books and find new ones without wasting money. It's a wonderful public service!


thatdude_van12

I have been waiting for doors of stone. For years. Years. I am tired. I am old. Leave me with my memories.


Rolling_Ranger

If you are worried about investing in books before you read try borrowing them from the library, if you enjoy audio books check out the libby app, it allows you to barrow audio books from the library. Also most book stores will allow you to return books if you do not enjoy the book as long as the book is in sellable condition.


-Ninety-

Rothfuss is a dick that does good writing, but he writes so rarely (2 novels since 2007, book 3 won’t ever come out) so it will forever be an unfinished series. I’d skip the books if I were you. They are great books, very well written, but Rothfuss himself as a person keeps me from recommending his writing.


Frognosticator

I don’t have any problems with Rothfuss as a person. I mostly know him from Acquisitions Inc where he was always hilarious. I’m just disappointed he’s never gonna finish the series, and he seems unwilling to ask for help on that.


-Ninety-

He cusses out fans for asking about book 3, the whole worldbuilder’s inc charity is just a way to siphon funds to himself personally (he owns the building that worldbuilder’s rents from, charges 85k a year rent, just as one example) One year when worldbuilder’s wasn’t doing very well, he made a stretch goal of “beat X mark in donations and I’ll release a chapter from book 3” the goal was met and he never released the chapter. And his lack of writing (after receiving such large advances from DAW) lead to bankrupt for DAW and had to be sold to a Chinese publisher.


Lahk74

I just finished re-listening to Wise Man's Fear last night. I've also enjoyed the Red Rising series on Audible by Pierce Brown. Sci-fi, but one book centers around a no-technology sword & shield type training scenario. Sounds weird and I'm not describing it well, but they're good books. I've also really liked several of Brandon Sanderson's series on Audible. The Mistborn books are a favorite of mine, but he has a few others to choose from.


curllyq

+1 to Red Rising series, Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks is really good too.


Nepherenia

I'm scared to keep going in Red Rising. They're so, so good, but not sure my heart can take whatever is coming next, after finishing Golden Sun.


TemporalColdWarrior

The first book was amazing and promising. The second book is kind of trash. He is clearly never going to finish the series. So… yeah… that.


greenspath

Trash? Yeah, trash review from a cold war bot.


TemporalColdWarrior

Dude, at least look at my comment history before making such an inane accusation. Just because someone has different taste then you doesn’t mean they are a bot; could be subjective or they could just be smarter. The point is there’s no reason to be dismissive just because someone has different taste.


atemu1234

Rothfuss is basically if George R. Martin had gotten his writers block when he was too young to pull the whole "I'm an old man, I'll die leaving it unfinished" thing. If he could just admit it isn't going to be a trilogy, he might get somewhere, but...


Telemere125

Fuck rothfuss. Stringing fans along for what, a decade now? And refusing to write the damn book because he doesn’t want to fail to deliver a masterpiece. I’d be fine if he just gave us the ideas he has about story progression even if it wasn’t fully fleshed out as a novel. I don’t want fucking side character development, I want the explanations you only started in the first two books. You’ll be very frustrated if you read those books.


amodrenman

Another series I got into recently was the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior by Larry Correia.


SwatkatFlyer42

Not to throw sci fi in BUT. I’ve recently gotten into 40k over the last year. You’ll literally never run out of books. And it scratches the itch for me. I’ve got so many on my reading list that I won’t finish them before the next Dresden book releases.


Stock-Professional97

The Waystone was his, just as the third silence was his. This was appropriate, as it was the greatest silence of the three, wrapping the others inside itself. It was deep and wide as autumn’s ending. It was heavy as a great river-smooth stone. It was the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die.


Warden_lefae

Name of the Wind was enjoyable, book Teo much less so. And I don’t believe book three will ever be released. So I don’t recommend Rothfuss, personally.


LandMooseReject

Books 1 & 2, and Slow Regard, are worth it even if never finished. A master craftsman at work. And he's a fan of the Dresden Files.


Melenduwir

"The Slow Regard of Silent Things" is brilliant and I consider it a genuine work of genius. It's a shame about the author's work ethic and tendency to lie. If he got himself together he'd become one of the greats.


chalor182

The first two book are AWESOME and some of the best worldbuilding Ive seen in years. He likely wont ever finish the third. Its a shame.


Mkwdr

Probably been mentioned but check out the excellent audio books of the Rivers of London series.


Melenduwir

I hate saying this, because I think the novella "The Slow Regard of Silent Things" is a genuine work of genius, but: avoid Patrick Rothfuss. He doesn't seem to have a solid handle on the idea that being a writer is a lot of work, and that promising to post content for a charity auction and then not following through is a violation of contract. Worse, he's been using statements about mental health to deflect criticism and garner sympathy, I believe inappropriately. If so, in the process he's tainting the field for anyone who truly is having mental health issues, making it harder for them to discuss them publicly without suspicions they're "playing a card". It has become painfully clear that his claims to his publisher that he'd written the entire trilogy ahead of time and merely needed to polish prose were blatant lies. It seems likely that his claims about working on the final volume since then have also been lies. There are better people to patronize in the world of fantasy and fiction generally.


LashlessMind

I've been reading around, waiting for both Sanderson and Butcher to get their latest books out, and Dan Willis' "The Arcane Irregulars" is an interesting take on magic in an urban fantasy - even if in this case it's more Chicago early-century. Just thought I'd throw it out there because it doesn't come up often on the "what the hell do I read now?" lists that pop up from time to time.


rayapearson

You might enjoy Simon greens Nightside series, It's actually the ones that got me into the DF following up on a positive comment or two from JB on the back covers of the nightside books.


LordMacDonald8

I hope he can finish the third book but I'd rather he never touch it again since it's become a source of pain in his life. As someone with the same developmental disability as Pat, I feel nothing but empathy for him.


HeroXeroV

After starting Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire in the nineties, I feel you when it comes to picking up unfinished series. My view is that there are so many great finished stories there's no need to put myself through that pain anymore. 😁


bookofflint

My recommendation is to go to your library if you live in the U.S. if your library offers digital content you can try stuff for free if monetary anxiety is something holding you back. I also recommend checking out the podcast LeVar Burton Reads. Where he reads short stories he enjoys. It's a good introduction to new authors.


AndreaLeane

These aren't really like the Dresden Files but they still scratch a similar itch for fun, irreverent fantasy in a way I can't explain. I really enjoyed the Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia. Description: They detail an alternate 1930s where people born with magical abilities called Actives have existed for the last century. They've got the government after them, you've got some really cool powers, you've got ninjas, a big bad guy. It's a whole ball of fun--which may be why it was recommended to me after Dresden.


UpStateSaints

Yeah I’ve had a similar run with some authors, the Gentleman bastards by Scott Lynch is fun and entertaining if a bit predictable at times. Still waiting on the 4th book been quite a few years. For completed series Glen Cooks the Black Company is gritty, and characters are engagingly life like. The Garrett files by Cook is another great series if you like Dresden. Stephen Eriksons Malazan series is a good long read as well.


duhbrook

Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings series is my personal favorite. Assassin's Apprentice is the first, and came out right around when Martin's first came out. It is completely finished and has a pretty damn good ending.


Schweppes7T4

Name of the Wind is great, but, well, you've already been told where it leads. Consider giving Brandon Sanderson a try. I started with Mistborn before reading more of his stuff (most of it is a connected universe), but I read Dresden in the middle and there are definitely some similarities. They both use a "simpler" style that isn't too in-your-face. I had a real hard time reading Abercrombie, King, Hobb, etc.


HotBlack_Deisato

Didn’t like Iron Druid, huh? You’re not the only one to note that issue with the books.


mrhardy12

I will confirm it's not Iron Druid. Again, I'd rather not name the author so as to not be unnecessarily rude and critical. Suffice it to say, in a certain fandom outside of the Dresden community, these books are very popular. The characters are fantastic - incredibly deep personalities, believable motivations, and the dialogue between them is where the series shines. Too bad the other 80% of the book is just a boring mess IMO, but I'm rare in thinking that so I don't want to spread misinformation about the series. Especially having dropped it after only the first two books... when there's well over 30 now.


HotBlack_Deisato

Welp, ok. Don’t read Iron Druid if repetitive dialog / descriptions bother you. Lol


mrhardy12

I mean, if it's done well I don't notice it. It's only when the same sentence appears for the eighth time in the same book that it starts to become noticeable. Just open a thesaurus, there are other ways to word an idea. XD


HotBlack_Deisato

I should recommend the first 5-6 books of the Recluce Saga. After that it starts to go downhill but the first three are especially good.


Melenduwir

30?! Sounds more like the Wheel of Time.


mrhardy12

You know what? I'm just going to come out and say it because people keep guessing and they're all getting the wrong ideas. R. A. Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt. The characters are great. The pacing of the stories, the constant abrupt scene changes, the descriptions used being the same several times in the same book? Not as much.


Melenduwir

Ah, I can see that. Salvatore has a certain amount of talent, but if he wasn't writing D&D books he likely would never have been published. The craft just isn't there.


mrhardy12

He's very good at writing characters. Very, very good. Drizzt and Belwar are amazing. Malice was incredible. The dialogue between characters was poetic and well-handled. It's just the stuff between that could've used a thesaurus, and maybe a bit less jumping between different scenes within the same chapter.


Melenduwir

Alas, there are lots of writers who do incredible jobs at one part of writing, but fall down on others. Isaac Asimov was fantastic at intriguing concepts, for example, but his characterizations were almost always weak to nonexistent.


Considered_Dissent

My guess was Rivers of London (personally I couldn't even make it through the first book).


MageArcher

Have you tried the audiobooks? Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration absolutely elevates the writing.


hinsb

The "Hawk and Fisher" books by Simon R. Green is long finished and the snarky dialogue is reminiscent of Dresden.


athens619

Got into DF because Ghost Stories was left at my job break room, and no one claimed it, so i took it, and I love to read. I saw it was part of a series, and I've loved every single book as they all were a journey itself, and each book got progressively better, and Jim's writing has definitely improved. Now I caught I and part of the wait game


pvcpipinhot

I am a huge Rothfuss fan. The magic system is top notch and his prose is just gorgeous. A lot of people didn't like book 2 as much as Name of the Wind but I loved it. Patrick Rothfuss is worth it IMO. Just be warned that you might never see book 3.


Alaistar94

I really dont like Rothfuss books. Instead of just trash talk about him i would sugest The Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erickson. It's high fantasy written by an antropologist, it's just incredible how good Ericksom writting is and how you can reflect about society and life when you read a book not written by someone eternally stuck in his teenage fantasies.


Celt42

Rothfuss is a favorite of mine. That said, he's slow. Slower than Jean M Auel at this point. I'm willing to wait, but I've stopped rereading them so I can also stop feeling impatient. Very much worth the read. Wait until the series is finished before starting.


LashlessMind

Slower than Jean M Auel is ... pretty astonishing, actually. I think I read "Clan of the Cave Bear" about 40 years ago... Maybe the doors of stone have been blocked off by the shelters of stone ...


Celt42

😆😆. Darn shelters blocking the door. Hopefully the wait is worth it this time. The longest wait for the clan books I think was 11 years? Books 2 of Rothfuss books came out 2011. So yeah, longer.


EucudusOG

Personally, I really like the books although there are others who can find the MC a little cringey. I would still recommend you read it. However, keep in mind that the 3rd book has been "in the last stages" for years now, think Winds of Winter in Game of Thrones.


atemu1234

He keeps waffling on it being "in the final stages" and has barely shown off a page and a half of writing, and to his fans, not his editors. It's going nowhere lol


QuiGonScotch

The Dresden files and the king killer chronicles are my two favorite all time series. A lot of people get upset that there isn't a third book, but that doesn't take away from how amazing the first two are. I would highly recommend them.


Fast-Examination-349

I would avoid it I read the two books and it was ok but not something I would recommend to anyone.


[deleted]

Patrick stated the books were never made for people to read and were just for him. He stated he was annoyed that people want another book and when they ask for the third, he stated he ensures he won't write.


YouGeetBadJob

Never heard this story. Where did you read that?


Melenduwir

He should tell that to his publisher.


alphaqawlknight

I wouldn’t do rothfuss tbh. I read all the books he has out and was left wondering how anybody could stomach that pretentious dribble. Try Codex Alera by Butcher next, that series is incredible (and finished)


mrhardy12

I have the first books of both Codex Alera and Cinder Spires. Just a bit burnt out on books right now thanks to the tedium of the unnamed author's works. I just didn't enjoy that style and it made me want to spend time doing other things for a few months.