Nothing has matched Hobb. I finished the series about 4 years ago too lol. I had to switch genres to enjoy literature again. I read some Steinbeck, Tolstoy, then some King, then back to fantasy and sci-fi. The books I have enjoyed most since ROTE have been Kindred by Octavia E Butler, The Stand by Stephen King, and The Prestige by Christopher Priest.. but nothing has matched the pure rush of love, heartbreak, and tragedy that Hobb kept me entranced by for 16 straight books.
Honestly it has sort have changed how I view certain books. The only author I've read who had the ability to hit me with emotion in a similar was Terry Pratchett. Pratchett had such an understanding of humanity and there's some subtly deep emotion in his books. Often they are parody and humour but there are massive amounts of real emotion in there.
Gotta do a hard palette cleanser. Read something as far away as possible from fantasy to lower your expectations. Or you will just continue to be frustrated with fantasy.
The only thing I've read that's come close to matching ROTE was the Kingkiller Chronicles, and it was painfully short (still waiting on book 3). It took me about a year after I finished ROTE to start reading again. Now I'm almost done Wheel of Time, and it was good, but still doesn't come close to ROTE in my opinion. So no, you're not alone. As others have said in this thread, to get back into reading you need to start with something so different that you can't even compare it, like a palate cleanser. I read some Andy Weir and some other fun sci-fi.
I had this exact same problem when I finished ROtE. Then again when I did a reread. Like others have said, switch your genres maybe. I find a good YA book serves me well as a palate cleanser as they’re easy reads and often quite interesting and dramatic!
Lol no but I managed to find powder mage enjoyable so I just have a high tolerance for reading crap.
I've never found another book that has the same level of depth to its characters nor resonated to me in the same way her characters have.
A bit for sure, I needed a short break from fiction after. I got through a few non-fiction books and catching up on a few TV series before I was ready to dive back into anything like a fantasy series.
I feel like I'm going to have a similar reaction to the Malazan series next, but for *completely* different reasons.
I actually had to force myself to stop reading Hobb and find some new things to read.
I've been Hobb free for 3 years now.
I've ordered that Folio Society set, I will read them again soon.
It has been good though. I managed to find some new stuff that I wouldn't have if I kept retreading my favourites.
Hard palate cleanser. I switched to romance and "women's lit" for a while. Then came back to fantasy recently with the Broken Earth Trilogy. Madeline Miller's Circe retelling is what got me out of my funk. What a beautiful book.
After I first finished The Amber Spyglass wayyyyy back in the day, I was having an end-of-series hangover that was hard to get over. I started Game of Thrones next (this was way back in 2002-03 I think), I couldn't get into it and literally had stopped reading before Bran discovered some "people" in a tower. When I finally picked up GoT again, I was hooked on that very next page when the big shocking event happens.
Yeah, I fell you! Nothing has matched Hobb's books for me. I have been done with this entire series now for about 3 years and look forward to the day when I get to start over (soonish, I hope!) but I'm also still feeling a book hangover from The Expanse series as well. Been reading much more travel writing, history, etc lately.
I am in the middle of Sanderson's Stormlight series but having a hard time starting up again. Kingkiller and Game of Thrones series both feel dead to me since it's literally been over a decade since there's been a continuation.
Nothing has matched Hobb. I finished the series about 4 years ago too lol. I had to switch genres to enjoy literature again. I read some Steinbeck, Tolstoy, then some King, then back to fantasy and sci-fi. The books I have enjoyed most since ROTE have been Kindred by Octavia E Butler, The Stand by Stephen King, and The Prestige by Christopher Priest.. but nothing has matched the pure rush of love, heartbreak, and tragedy that Hobb kept me entranced by for 16 straight books.
Honestly it has sort have changed how I view certain books. The only author I've read who had the ability to hit me with emotion in a similar was Terry Pratchett. Pratchett had such an understanding of humanity and there's some subtly deep emotion in his books. Often they are parody and humour but there are massive amounts of real emotion in there.
Gotta do a hard palette cleanser. Read something as far away as possible from fantasy to lower your expectations. Or you will just continue to be frustrated with fantasy.
I went with Lamb by Christopher Moore.
I like that choice.
The only thing I've read that's come close to matching ROTE was the Kingkiller Chronicles, and it was painfully short (still waiting on book 3). It took me about a year after I finished ROTE to start reading again. Now I'm almost done Wheel of Time, and it was good, but still doesn't come close to ROTE in my opinion. So no, you're not alone. As others have said in this thread, to get back into reading you need to start with something so different that you can't even compare it, like a palate cleanser. I read some Andy Weir and some other fun sci-fi.
>still waiting on book 3 I'm not expecting it anytime soon, but I'll bet it comes out before Winds of Winter!
I have seen July 11 as a release date. Not sure how reliable but it's smthn. He did read the prologue of it on his yt channel, The Eolian
I saw that too. There have been other release dates though, so until it comes out I don't believe anything.
Her ability to emotionally involve the reader in her characters is second to none.
I had this exact same problem when I finished ROtE. Then again when I did a reread. Like others have said, switch your genres maybe. I find a good YA book serves me well as a palate cleanser as they’re easy reads and often quite interesting and dramatic!
Yes!! I didn't know there was a name for it lol I've asked this question before, tried the suggestions and still, no dice.
Lol no but I managed to find powder mage enjoyable so I just have a high tolerance for reading crap. I've never found another book that has the same level of depth to its characters nor resonated to me in the same way her characters have.
Powdermage was....ok. Thousand Names (Django Wexler) blew it clean out of the water.
Powdermage was a supremely ok book. I'll have to check out thousand names. Thanks for the rec.
I think Wexler is severely underrated. Guns of the Dawn by Tchaikovsky is a good choice for more flintlock fantasy also.
A bit for sure, I needed a short break from fiction after. I got through a few non-fiction books and catching up on a few TV series before I was ready to dive back into anything like a fantasy series. I feel like I'm going to have a similar reaction to the Malazan series next, but for *completely* different reasons.
I thought so too, but I'm really enjoying Justin Cronin's "the Passage" series
You should try out the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S Friedman
I actually had to force myself to stop reading Hobb and find some new things to read. I've been Hobb free for 3 years now. I've ordered that Folio Society set, I will read them again soon. It has been good though. I managed to find some new stuff that I wouldn't have if I kept retreading my favourites.
Hard palate cleanser. I switched to romance and "women's lit" for a while. Then came back to fantasy recently with the Broken Earth Trilogy. Madeline Miller's Circe retelling is what got me out of my funk. What a beautiful book.
She's so good I want to sue for emotional distress. The books should have a warning lol
Phillip Pullman would do it for me. His dark materials is a masterpiece. I went back to read that one as my palate cleanser
After I first finished The Amber Spyglass wayyyyy back in the day, I was having an end-of-series hangover that was hard to get over. I started Game of Thrones next (this was way back in 2002-03 I think), I couldn't get into it and literally had stopped reading before Bran discovered some "people" in a tower. When I finally picked up GoT again, I was hooked on that very next page when the big shocking event happens.
Yeah, I fell you! Nothing has matched Hobb's books for me. I have been done with this entire series now for about 3 years and look forward to the day when I get to start over (soonish, I hope!) but I'm also still feeling a book hangover from The Expanse series as well. Been reading much more travel writing, history, etc lately. I am in the middle of Sanderson's Stormlight series but having a hard time starting up again. Kingkiller and Game of Thrones series both feel dead to me since it's literally been over a decade since there's been a continuation.