16 Fantasy/Sci-fi Series I Need to Finish (Or Quit): Cosmere, Dandelion Dynasty, First Law, and More

[@PreacherReads]

I promise you the screaming child in the background of many of these segments is in fact fine….he plays loudly 🤣🤣

[@heathergoldsmith]

As someone else said, yes, read the standalones in The First Law world before the Age of Madness. They do hold up well on their own, but there are threads you need to follow and pick up on that make the Age of Madness even better. And I couldn't agree more on the audio versions - definitely makes the storytelling experience even better. 💜

[@PreacherReads]

@@heathergoldsmith thanks for watching and the advice!! Need to get back to em!

[@ChristisLord99]

Rage of Dragons is awesome and so is Fires of Vengeance both 5 stars for me. I would say wait for the third book to come out or read it closer to the date of its release, as it ends on a massive cliffhanger. God bless.

[@PreacherReads]

@@ChristisLord99 thanks for watching man!

[@AuthorJohnADouglas]

Found you on IG. Glad to see you got a KZbin as well. Take my Sub

[@PreacherReads]

Let’s go! Thanks man 💪🏼❤️

[@skyliongaming8871]

I am in the same boat. I’ve read book 1 of some of these but have like 90+ books on my TBR but will get to finishing/continuing those series at some point.

[@PreacherReads]

@@skyliongaming8871 we have a problem, Sky

[@skyliongaming8871]

what’s that?

[@PreacherReads]

@@skyliongaming8871 ever expanding tbr addiction

[@skyliongaming8871]

@ that’s not a problem 😂😂😂

[@jonathankoan]

I love the setup and the discussion!

[@PreacherReads]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@Jeremy-PhoenixBooks27]

Keep going on the Dresden Files, it really gets better every book. Absolutely love Dresden! Also other series I'd recommend is The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill, and if you're looking for some more Urban Fantasy I love The Hellequin Chronicles by Steve McHugh, its a great wild ride of a story that concludes with The Rebellion Chronicles.

[@PreacherReads]

I’ve got Cahill on deck for 2025! Will try to be all caught up by the next release!

[@Jeremy-PhoenixBooks27]

@@PreacherReads Its worth it. I'm half way through book 3 right now and its probably one of the best series I've read in a while, and not to oversell it but it may be in like my top 5 book series ever. It gets better and better every book. One thing make sure you read the novellas at the right time. I would suggest to start with The Fall, some say read it after you read the first book but I think you're losing out on some references in book 1 if you read The Fall after it, also I feel like you have a better idea of the world.

[@PreacherReads]

@@Jeremy-PhoenixBooks27 I got it! I’m stoked to read it and I’m sure will have plenty of videos on my time with it!

[@Chance.Dillon]

The first law standalones are so dang good. On red country-can’t wait to get to age of madness If you’re an Abercrombie fan, you should definitely do the standalones. The heroes might be my 2nd favorite of the 5 I’ve read

[@PreacherReads]

I know, I should be ashamed

[@treadtyred9742]

I think you should treat yourself with some of the Joe Abercrombie standalones and get the audiobooks narrated by Steven Pacey for when your driving walking etc. Steven gets the chefs kiss from me.

[@PreacherReads]

@@treadtyred9742 I know Best Served Cold is a lot of people’s favorites

[@Corlwow]

First Law: Standalones add so much more to final trilogy/age of madness. Personally two of my top 4 are in the standalones. They are sooooo good!

[@PreacherReads]

@@Corlwow I may have started book 1 of AoM 🙃

[@Corlwow]

@ ah shame, theres a lot of hidden layers of humour and depth sometimes with certain characters. But you’ll still probably enjoy AoM either way.

[@tllansing3451]

I liked Dresden books and I'm reading Ted Dekker The Circle Series

[@PreacherReads]

How are the Dekker books? It’s been so long. I read Showdown and Skin

[@Cyriax71]

Definitely continue with Dresden. Great palette cleansers that become deeper and more connected as you continue. I’ve enjoyed both The Tide Child and Wounded Kingdom series by RJ Barker. Maybe check out Age of Assassins and continue with the series you connect with the most. I bounced off Wall of Storms as well. There were things going on in my life at the time that may have effected that so I will probably try it again m, but I’m not in a rush myself.

[@PreacherReads]

@@Cyriax71 ❤️

[@hiimjenni]

Found your channel this week and I’m loving it! I read a lot of sci fi and horror. I read annihilation last year, and yeah, didn’t love it. I pushed through to finish the series and still wasn’t satisfied at the end. I do like the shift between books 1 & 2, but wasn’t enough for me to really recommend to people.

[@PreacherReads]

@@hiimjenni thanks for watching!!

[@PreacherReads]

@@hiimjenni so many people love it I feel like I’m missing something 🤣

[@hiimjenni]

@@PreacherReads I think a lot of people really enjoyed the weird environment of the book, but I don’t feel like the “answer” at the end gave me any sort of fulfillment. They’re short, so if you really decide you wanna finish the series, it’s not too difficult, but I felt it kinda wasn’t worth it.

[@stevenstewart782]

I would definitely stick with it as far as Dresden files but there's no real hurry he hasn't released a date for the next book yet So if you read 2 or 3 books this year That'll get you to like book 7 from that point on he's pretty much introduced All the big player players of the world Except for except for a couple surprises Come in the later books That's when you'll wanna start consuming like 1 month but until Nice pallet Nice palette cleansers that are just fun reeds

[@PreacherReads]

@@stevenstewart782 for sure! Thanks for watching and commenting 💪🏼

[@kevhines]

I hate when Cosmere fans tell you what order you have to read stuff in. Don’t stress about that. Read them as the separate series they are and enjoy connections when you find them. Stressing about reading order makes it homework.

[@PreacherReads]

I feel that so hard 😅

[@psifiguy]

I just finished The Expanse. I thought it was 1 of the better series I've read in a long time. If you are enjoying it, then I'd say keep reading. Like you I haven't read Sanderson's books. I read Way of the King's and will probably read book 2 at some point. I found it to be a bit of a slog - It just took so long to get somewhere. It seems to be 1 of those series to read when you have a lot of time. I have heard good things about the Sun Eater series and will give at least the 1st book or 2 a try. Really hoping it is better than Red Rising (so many compare the 2 series). RR was not for me - author could write some good action. I made it through book 4 to see if it would improve (it did a little but not enough to carry on at this point - suspension of disbelief, really bad tactics, mislaid trust) Good video, I enjoyed watching it.

[@PreacherReads]

I’ll definitely return to the expanse at some point, and I’m LOVING Sun Eater 💪🏼 Sanderson lost some steam for me with Wind and Truth but I’ll keeep going and eventually get Mistborn knocked out at least

[@nathanolsen671]

No lie, 90% of your books you haven’t finished I haven’t finished either. Great motivation. Subbed!

[@PreacherReads]

@@nathanolsen671 did we just become best friends?

[@nathanolsen671]

@ haha. I think. Also. Good to see a perspective of a pastor on here with some of my favorite books.

[@PreacherReads]

@ thanks for the kind words man! Want to do karate in the basement?

[@averyforeman5208]

I also didn’t read the cosmere in order and I just kind of read them as seperate series that I read whenever they sound good. Sue me haha. I love everything Bachman has written but has only read the first beartown. I’m scared my babies are gonna get hurt.

[@PreacherReads]

Sue me 🤣 I mean, it’s Backman, trauma is a given 😆

[@DrShanona]

Totally off topic, but have you watched The Expanse? And yes, Sunbringer had some serious middle book syndrome. I do think the ending redeemed it some and I will be reading book 3 because I loved book 1 so much.

[@PreacherReads]

@@DrShanona nope!!! Need to!

[@TurnerMain]

You mention your book club a couple times in the video. Is that an open book club? Would be interested in joining if it’s open / online!

[@PreacherReads]

It started as a book club connected to a gaming discord we had, so it’s just people who are already in there for the most part! May look to expand it out soon though

[@Danhibbert73]

I'd probably finish Tide Child, I thought 2 and 3 were good, also the Expanse though i agree some of the steam goes out of it at the break you referred to. Many of the others you mentioned I'm unfinished on as well lol, except have read almost all the Cosmere - Elantris and one of the secret projects left. I don't think it matters at all what order you read them in - not everyone needs to be a cosmere expert.

[@DrMetalpin]

The 3rd Gentlemen Bastards book is great in my opinion. Hopefully Lynch writes more novels, but even if he doesn’t, it’s worth reading book 3. The flashbacks are worth the price of admission.

[@PreacherReads]

@@DrMetalpin I honesty don’t even really remember why I put it down. And I don’t think I really said “ I’m not coming back”, I just still haven’t 🤣

[@Just_Another_Reader]

The flashbacks make up for the slower present day plot in my opinion. It’s good, but not up to the high standard of the first two books

[@PreacherReads]

@ I stopped right when they entered into the “main plot” of the third book. Just wasn’t excited for what was about to happen at the moment. The day book 4 is announced I’ll add it back to the TBR 😅

[@saindonpatrick88]

Annilation is one of my favorite books of all time but if you didnt love it you wont like the rest of the series as they are just not as good i only recommend continueing if you loved annilation

[@PreacherReads]

@@saindonpatrick88 makes sense!

[@lissavanhouten6628]

It feels like The Expanse had a good stopping point after Book Six. I don't think I like the time jump at Book Seven, so I have yet to continue the series that ends at Book Nine.

[@PreacherReads]

That’s what I had been told too!

[@ireallyamjomarch]

I didn’t like Annihilation either, the book or the movie. With the book, I really enjoyed maybe the first half, felt like it was very atmospheric and I love stories featuring scientists. And I did consider continuing the series but heard that basically, if you didn’t like it, it wasn’t going to get better, nothing is ever explained at all.

[@PreacherReads]

@@ireallyamjomarch I’m not alone!!! 🤣

[@ireallyamjomarch]

@@PreacherReadsnot at all. I lent it to my friend, we definitely have some similar taste but also can have very differing opinions and she disliked it even more than I did she might’ve even DNF’d it and she rarely DNF’s and is way less of a critical reviewer than I am.

[@PreacherReads]

@ it’s weird how books work huh? Like, there are people who read Prince of Thorns and liked it…🤣

[@ireallyamjomarch]

@@PreacherReadsthere are so many popular books I vehemently wish I’d never wasted my time with. And some of my all time favorite books are super underrated 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@RhinoViper]

If you already love Dresden through the first 4 or 5 books then you'll Absolutely love the rest, because it does all the things everyone says it does. Most people who think the first few are just ok, still end up loving the rest of the series....really, the only people who don't like Dresden are those that just can't make it past the first 3-4 books.

[@PreacherReads]

@@RhinoViper that’s one that I know I will love! It’s just so EASY to put it down after one because the stories feel so self-contained

[@RhinoViper]

@@PreacherReads They are quick and easy reads....they do become more of a "series" as you go instead of what feels like individual books. But yeah, very good palate cleansers with how quick and easy they are to read.

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I DNF Gentleman Bastards in book 1 so I say finish it I mean I love Dresden files….it peaks at book 12. I wouldn’t say he is pumping them out. I’m fully caught up Ohhh I vote DNF the expanse I don’t like that series I walked away at book 5 😂 I liked the bones ships but I thought book 1 was my favorite but book 2 is very good. Book 3 is eh I really disliked book 2 of sandman slim DnF it I say if you like Dresden read Alex Verus 😂 I’m not a first law fan but I guess continue it Merphy got me to buy annihilation. Haven’t read it yet. I’d say DNF if you didn’t like it lol 😂 I didn’t like Rage of Dragons so I guess continue it I am done with mark Lawrence lol 😂 his books aren’t for me anymore. I DNF book that wouldn’t burn. I’ve read a lot of Lawrence. I was loving ordinary monsters but felt it let me down 30% in

[@PreacherReads]

I’ve heard so much good about Alex Verus!

[@macmay3042]

I don't think it's as critical as people say to read the whole cosmere. People make a big deal of the connections and I do think it adds a lot to the story, but you can just read Stormlight and be fine, or read the others when you want. I mean, I love all the books, and I definitely recommend them. I'm just saying you don't have to.

[@PreacherReads]

@@macmay3042 yeah I didn’t feel super hindered in the Stormlight books by the way I did it, but Sanderson is a good enough writer that I could tell I missed some connections

[@DrMetalpin]

I’d read the Sandman Slim series if it was cheaper honestly. For what the books are, 15-18 dollars for each Kindle book or paperback is just too much. I have too many other books already on my TBR.

[@PreacherReads]

@@DrMetalpin I found the first 5 at a used store in great condition that was a big help for me. Have you checked PangoBooks?

[@DrMetalpin]

@@PreacherReadsI haven’t. I’ll check it out. Thanks.

[@RhinoViper]

The First Law is a 9 book series...don't skip anything and continue on.

[@PreacherReads]

@@RhinoViper I know I need to be shamed for this

[@Riggamarolle]

You know what I have to say bruh.

[@PreacherReads]

hmmmm you want me to….grab more indie self pub?

[@Riggamarolle]

@@PreacherReads -.-

[@LaneLck]

Don't DNF Dresden, it's so easy to read quickly and the books really do just get better and better as the characters grow. The audiobooks are fantastic if you are into audio. I enjoyed all of the Expanse novels, but they are probably not going to be a series I feel the need to re-read. I will say that book 4 is the weakest and book 5 is the strongest IMO, but I did enjoy the "back half" as well. I also feel that the Author's writing style is easy to consume. I thought Annihilation was okay, but I could not get into book 2, DNFd it. Read Mistborn Era 1 and decide from there. I enjoyed the whole of the cosmere but the ancillary books are not for everyone and aren't as good as Stormlight or MB Era 1.

[@PreacherReads]

Dresden is definitely one I don’t question if I’ll finish it’s just convincing myself to knock 2-3 out at a time when I put them on the tbr!

[@RhinoViper]

I read Grace of Kings and stopped there, just didn't click for me.

[@DrMetalpin]

I kinda felt the same way, but read Wall of Storms a year later. I thought the story was way better and I’ll definitely continue the series.

[@skyliongaming8871]

Yeah prince of thorns might be the worst book I’ve ever read lol

[@PreacherReads]

@@skyliongaming8871 🤣