Fantasy Book Club discussion

Many people love Brandon Sanderson. Post here if you do and talk about why or why not.

I like his writing, for the most part. He comes up with some interesting and unique magic systems. His action sequences never fail to fill my mind's eye with vivid visuals, perfectly rendered. He usually pens female characters well (surprisingly). I sometimes wish for more character depth.

He's doing a great job finishing the Wheel of Time series. I've liked everything I've read that he's written, but not sure I'd include it in my 're-read' favorite list of authors.

I've read the first Mistborn and thought it was a very good story and characters, and I look forward to reading more of his storys. I haven't gotten to his part of the Wheel of Time series yet. I like how friendly he is

I like him too. His stuff is fun, easy to read and creative. I enjoy a good story and he's delivered for me. It'll be interesting to see where his writing will take him next. Plus he's one of the authors out there that I've actually met several times. He's super friendly and accessible to fans.

I love his books, I've read the Mistborn trilogy and currently reading The Alloy of Law. I like his style and the way he explains new terms when it's the right time in the book and not just all in the beginning.

Without a doubt one of my favorite authors, with the exception of Way of Kings (too slow) and his continuing the Wheel of Time because I never got into that series. I've loved all his books. I haven't read his YA series yet though.

Jon wrote: "I sometimes wish for more character depth"

Totally agree with you on this: my major issue with his writing is that I really struggle to connect with his characters, the exception to this being Warbreaker. Other than this think he's incredibly inventive and a talented writer. And his magic systems are always incredibly cool!

He's definitely a favorite author. Great imagination. Books that are easy to read but not simple. I love a great action scene and he's good at those. I like how most of his books end with a surprising twist. I agree that character depth seems to be lacking somewhat. I like his characters for the most part but I can't "picture" them. If you know what I mean. I do think he'll only get better though. Really think he's going to end up as a big name in fantasy. If he's not considered one already, I don't think so. With all my praise I do have one complaint though. His female character are lacking the diversity of his male characters.

I will toss my coins for this author. Love his Mistborn book. :)

One of my top five authors. I like the magic systems - first, because they have specific rules and restrictions which he holds himself to and second, because he takes time to introduce them gradually and organically in the story. No info dump. No confusion.

He also plays with turning fantasy tropes on their ear, which is always fun.

And I like his characters. They feel 'real' to me.

I love his books, very unique and different.

His magic systems made me really fall in love with his books. Like Shannon, I also like how they have rules, it makes them more fun to me. I think it's amazing how he just keeps coming up with new and interesting systems. He is definitely my favorite author.

Now, don't shoot me for this, but I personally can't wait for him to finish the Wheel of Time series, so he can continue with his own books. I'm not a fan of the WoT series so for me this just feels like a delay.

His magic systems are among the best around – and sufficiently different for me never to feel : hold on, seen this before …

I find that in the standalones he does sometimes need more character depth; while in the series, there’s enough time for people to mature and develop, so that issue doesn’t arise. Of course, even his standalones are longish – but I couldn’t be doing with Warbreaker, and I found The Alloy of Law not very believable either. It seemed to end as though he intended a sequel – but he says not. Why?

I do love Sanderson he is probably one of my favourite authors ever, although hasn't over taken Sir Terry Pratchett. I'm not sure any one can but he is close, very flipping close!

Brandon Sanderson is definitely one of my favourite authors too. He's original, creative, and funny (just read some of the dialogue between "Wayne" and "Wax" in the Alloy of Law and you'll see what I mean). I think the Mistborn series system of magic has to be one of the coolest ones I've ever read about. Some of his stories are amazingly complex. "The Hero of Ages floored me ... all the little clues he had dropped throughout the other 2 Mistborn books all came together in an epic conclusion...awesome!
If I have one complaint about Sanderson, it's that his fight scenes are too long and complex for my tastes. I often find myself skipping over them to pick up where the story starts again after the battle. However, I know plenty of people who like that kind of detail in their fight scenes so I think that's just a matter of individual preference in what you like to read, not a fault of the author.

I've just met Sanderson, started Mistborn for the sister group. After reading book 2 I had to go straight on as I was so involved. I started Alloy of LAw last night and initially was annoyed to find guns in it and the magic had changed. Then I realised I'd read an hour past bed time so...

If I have a complaint about Sanderson it's that he keeps starting series I want him to continue.

Completely agree with all about the amazingness of the magic system in Mistborn. And props to Sanderson for pulling off Alloy of Law amazingly well. I'm always a bit wary of reading follow up books but Alloy of Law had all my favourite parts of Mistborn whilst also being unique enough to draw me in all over again.

I love, love, love, loved Warbreaker (the colour changing, grow on demand hair!) but didn't finish reading Elantris because I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

Eagerly awaiting more in the Stormlight Archives series, WoK definitely required more work of the reader than his other books I think, but I found the effort was worth it.

I've only started reading his stuff recently due to his finishing off the WoT books. Not only is he doing a wonderful job of resurrecting my favourite book series but is also managing to introduce me to new ones. Mistborn in particular is wonderful.

Things that set Sanderson apart from some other authors are his innovative but extremely well thought out magic systems and willingness to broach previously relatively unexplored concepts. The move from epic fantasy in the mistborn trilogy to urban fantasy in the alloy of law is a wonderful move that I've always wanted to see done well.

I also love his writing style. I'd like to think that he and I share a lot of ideals when it comes to story telling yet he is so far ahead of me in terms of world building that he is always in the back of my mind when working on my own projects. In particular the latest one I'm working in is set in a relatively unique time frame for fantasy story telling.

WAR Sanderson. Looking forward greatly to reading his other works and in particular, the last wheel of time novel.

As an aside, he also is a podcast member for writingexcuses.com which in my opinion is a resource that no budding writer should ignore.

Sanderson has also grown to be one of my favorite fantasy writers, not just because he is finishing the WoT series, but because of his inventive magic systems and adept world building. I also enjoy his podcast, and find it valuable for understanding the writing process better. Sanderson is an impressive talent, and I'd jump at any new books quicker than you can say "hardback edition."

I really enjoyed the first Mistborn book, especially how it starts out and the brilliant magic system.

I tried to read "Way of the Kings" but just couldn't get "hooked" by it. I think I'll go back to it at some point -- I've heard good things about it so I think I just have to take another run at it.

I agree with Moira above: the hair in Warbreaker was a nice touch! I thought the concept of "breath" was very original as well!

Brandon Sanderson's worlds and magic systems are utterly unique and fascinating. The Mistborn series was the first I have read of him, and it was great but The Way of Kings has the potential to be even better! The Way of Kings is a long read but it is well worth it, and it is the start of an Epic fantasy series of 10 books or so. I've also read the Alloy of Law but was not too thrilled by it.

Jon wrote: "I've only started reading his stuff recently due to his finishing off the WoT books. Not only is he doing a wonderful job of resurrecting my favourite book series but is also managing to introduce ..."Believe it or not, I've yet to read Jordan's Wheel of Time series (including - obviously - Brandon's completing novels of it). However, I'm a Brandon fan for his Mistborn Trilogy (initially); Elantris, Warbreaker and The Way of Kings, which (eventually - I believe) will be as epic as WoT and known as The Stormlight Archive. According to Brandon, this is the epic he's been formulating for years. Imo, even if The Way of Kings was an extremely lengthy set-up for the series, it's exactly what the series required because there is so much just touched on in this massive novel (i.e.: Shadesmar). I mean, when you consider Szeth, Kaladin, Jasnah, and Shallan into this, in addition to all the other characters I can't name at this time, you know this epic is going to be well beyond anything Brandon has done yet. I have to admit that I do/do not look forward to re-reading The Way of Kings when Brandon's second novel in this series is finally written and released! (I secretly resent that he's committed to completing Robert Jordan's WoT series before he can write the second SA novel.) Anyway, all this aside, I respect that Brandon has always been very forthcoming with every project in which he's involved and I support him (as does RJ's widow, Harriet) in his completion of WoT. So, this just means that I have amazing books to read, all of which are in my "to-read" list!

Lastly, having been to a book-signing with both Brandon and Harriet last November, I have to say that both are so gracious for the devotion of their fan base! Even though Harriet wasn't the writer her husband was, she's the one who entreated Brandon Sanderson to complete her husband's greatest fantasy work. She was present, side-by-side with Brandon, and signed original HC copies of new releases of both RJ's and Brandon's work. It was as incredible honor to meet her.

I love the magical system he invented for Mistborn! Absolutely incredible!

@Karen - I agree!

Quick question. I have an ebook of The way of Kings
the ebook cover is 2 men facing each other across a large chasm. I see there is also another cover but it involves the story over 2 parts. Is my version the entire Way of Kings book in one ?
Not sure I've expressed myself very well, but hopefully you get the gist of it ... ;O)

Actually the other version is the full book split in two. You have the way it was meant to be sold.

I think...

It might be that since the HC of the novel was 1001 pages long, the pb version of it was simply too thick for actual production. (It might have been split into two volumes. Janny Wurts did this with The Ships of Merior/Warhost of Vastmark which I've recently read and/or am currently reading.) In all honesty, I don't really know. I purchased the HC just as soon as it was released because I wanted to read Brandon's genius as soon as possible and I eagerly await the second installment!

Cool, thanks guys... or should I say girls. :o) I'm enjoying it immensely and will also look forward to the second installment when it's released.

Mistborn had me easily captivated from the beginning. I love his obsession with world building, and how the twists he pulls tend to have roots in the beginnings of his books. Everything makes logical sense. (:

Also, his made up religions are also fun to read about. Sazed's ramblings in the first book were always interesting.

So far, "The Way of Kings" is a fabulous read. Maybe, just maybe a little slow in the beginning, but the characters are so well developed and described that the story never gets boring. Love it!

Scott (Ozziespur) wrote: "Cool, thanks guys... or should I say girls. :o) I'm enjoying it immensely and will also look forward to the second installment when it's released."

Since Brandon's been working on completing Robert Jordan's WoT series, we're not likely to see the sequel to TWoK until 2014. I'm eager for it, but I'll happily await its release. I'm definitely going to re-read TWoK before then.

Noelle wrote: "So far, "The Way of Kings" is a fabulous read. Maybe, just maybe a little slow in the beginning, but the characters are so well developed and described that the story never gets boring. Love it!"

It is slow in the beginning and even farther into the novel as well. However, since TWoK is only the first installment of The Stormlight Archive, I think Brandon had a lot of ground to cover in setting up this epic series.

Yvonne wrote: "His magic systems made me really fall in love with his books. Like Shannon, I also like how they have rules, it makes them more fun to me. I think it's amazing how he just keeps coming up with new ..."
Amen

superb!

Just started wok, have to

Disagree re mistborn as I just can't get into it.

I think the point of Mistborn series is it is a send-up of conventional fantasy tropes, e.g., Wheel of Time. Practically everything is reversed in this book, including making the good guys into criminals. That said, I can see having a bit of trouble getting into the book, Sanderson tends to spend a lot of time in the character's heads but they aren't always the most distinctive characters. I think that's fall out of his attempt to make his characters not be cartoonish, that is by making them more real they tend to be a bit more average. You can kind of see how the characters were less distinct and more realistic after he took over the Wheel of Time books, for instance.

Hi folks, i´ve just read The Mistborn Trilogy and its is not my favorite. Its very good, but not my favorite. You think i should read The Way of Kings?
Which one is Sanderson´s best?

If its ok for me to ask at this post.

Actually, I was going to ask the same. I'm a fan but haven't gotten to Way of Kings or Mist-born books. I wanted to wait for Way of Kings until Wheel of Time finished.

The Way Of Kings was my introduction to Brandon Sanderson.

I loved it.

I'm hoping to get to his other books soon.
WoT will have to wait...some time for me.

Xetws wrote: "Hi folks, i´ve just read The Mistborn Trilogy and its is not my favorite. Its very good, but not my favorite. You think i should read The Way of Kings?
Which one is Sanderson´s best?

If you can take the size of it, then The Way of Kings is the one to go for. It has breadth, depth - and quiet some length too! But you will end up looking for the successors, and blaming yourself for starting the series before they were all available ...

Hi everyone.I finished Hero of Ages today and I think Brandon Sanderson is one of my favourite authors now.Can't wait to read his other books.Actually he made me to think to take a weekend course on fantasy writing and write again after several years.I wrote short stories before but not in fantasy.I don't know maybe it's time to put my dreams out there

Aslı wrote: "...I don't know maybe it's time to put my dreams out there"


Go for it!!

Heck yes to this!! I love Brandon Sanderson!! I'm a fantasy author too so I can completely relate to you wanting to put your dreams out there via the fantasy genre as well! It's SO much fun writing fantasy because anything can happen in that genre as well as in your dreams. Good luck!

Igor,Nichelle thanks a lot for encouraging me:)

I just finished The Way of Kings, and I gotta tell you, THAT was his best work. I liked mist born, loved it while reading it, but having finished that series I felt somewhat unsatisfied. Sanderson has talked in his podcast about how he has an avalanche at the climax of his books, where everything comes to a close fast and then it's over. There was something about the kist born universe that felt too small in proportion. It really felt focused on one city being the focal point for the whole world, where as the way of kings, just by introducing various cultures that exist in the world, expand the borders of the world in my brain and hopefully will get further explored in later novels. I series I think will be his crowning jewel, it has such great potential, I can't help but wait anxiously for the next book! I think I am looking forward to it more than the next book for ASOIAF. Maybe it's game of thrones tv show is satisfying that need for a new book... But the storm light archive is going to be my new jam!

Other than the things that have been pointed out above, I also love Sanderson for his romantic story lines. In Elantris, he even created a romance between two people who are in two different places and have never even met!

Oh my heavens ...it just occurred to me that the characters in Alloy of Law are named Wax and Wayne. Wax and wane - no way that's coincidence. Must consider more deeply...

Brandon Sanderson's newest Stormlight Archive is coming along.

Some cover art.

http://www.tor.com/2017/03/16/reveali...