My 10 Most Disappointing Books of 2021

Mike talks about 10 books that missed the mark for him in 2021 and why.
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#MikesBookReviews #WorstBooks #DisappointingBooks

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I have the same issue with buying a whole series before I even try it….. sometimes it works and sometimes you get burned

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

My tables are all still upright! If even King can make this list, it just goes to show that no author is perfect for a given reader every time. Cheers, Mike! I actually finished the Poppy War Trilogy this year, and while I found plenty to admire, I also had my issues with it.

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

Something about King is that his constant readers are super diverse. Honestly, you can easily love Lisey's Story and Mike can love your least favorite one. And we're chill about it, I've never been the biggest fan of IT and nobody ever critized me for that, being the fan favorite that it is.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@JuanMartinez-ib7mz I’ve definitely found the King fandom to be friendly and helpful.

[@merc9nine]

He just writes a lot.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@Johannes Aweke Just a reference to Mike saying that people upset with his list of disappointing reads might start flipping over tables in anger. 😁

[@Sameranth]

Always enjoy these sorts of videos Mike! It’s good to have different perspectives

[@adamergul2083]

This guy is reading over a hundred books in an entire year and I can hardly finish 9 books in half a year!!!

[@Archonsx]

that's fine, reading is bad for your eyes

[@donovanchilton5817]

It's not, but okay.

[@rolanddeschain6089]

Just make yourself a little more time to read. If you want. If not, that's okay too. Just read as much as you enjoy. It's not a contest.

[@turtleanton6539]

​@@rolanddeschain6089 right

[@hhumca]

It is actually a good pace. I aim for 2 a month with one book less than 280 pages.

[@thesmuli83]

Hi Mike. Many kept / good books on your list. My Top Disappointing Books of 2021 1.Jade City 2. The Poppy War 3. The Malazan Book of the Fallen 2,4 and 5

[@ianrobertson7312]

I can definitely see the less than stellar feelings related to Murderbot. I think there is an acquired comedic style that won't work with all crowds. Murderbot itself also has a tendency for the dramatic. I know that I read through the first four books in about a month and then didn't finish the series until December because I needed different character traits for a long while. Otherwise, a really interesting list and very informative. Thanks for sharing your opinion Mike. Have a Happy Holiday!

[@wardo1602]

Thank you so much for this Mike! I needed to hear another book lover allowing his disappointment to halt a series. I am such a completist in most things in life that I feel guilty if I leave a series unfinished. However, it just doesn't make any sense to read something you are not enjoying when there are so many other good options out there. For me, it was Malazan after book 3, since it was just not doing it for me (few years ago, so not part of your warband).

[@Juanpa_SC]

Your thoughts of The Fisherman are ALMOST the same as mine regarding Wizard and Glass. The difference is that The only thing I cared for in that book is the 50 pages in the present with the characters I wanted to read about. The moment the flashback ended (and so the book) my interest immidiately fired up again.

[@teksnotdead902]

While I didn’t feel that way about Wizard and Glass totally (loved the Big Coffin Hunters) but I did feel that way about Wind Through the Keyhole. By the time we got to the story within the story within the story I was more annoyed than excited.

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Happy Christmas to you. Mike made my year!

[@sabrinavonhoegen4262]

Haven't watched any of your Videos in a very long time ooops XD. Just too much stuff going on. Got a lot to catch up on. I agree with you on the Muderbot series. Read the first book and thought it's nice. And they are really short, but still, somewhere in the middle of the second book I went to read something else and just never picked it up again, because I just didn't care enough where the story goes. Rushed endings are one of my pet peeves, especially when it's really long books - I just expect more than the story being resolved in a couple pages or less. Had that problem with "Atlas shrugged". The book is over 1000 pages, and yet it was all over and done in a matter of a few pages, and I was like "wait, what? It's already over? That's it?" Anyway, wishing you and your family (and everyone else reading this) happy holidays!

[@henrycapuano7143]

I’m sad you didn’t like Blood Meridian, but thanks for always adding to my TBR!

[@lsdeann_3293]

"The Girl who Played With Fi----" FLIPS TABLE. I actually really loved the whole trilogy, even though it's a bit out of my usual wheelhouse.

[@RaabStephan]

I'm definitely excited to read the Liveship Traders in 2022!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I think you'll like Liveship Traders... great character work, great plot, not always at sea.

[@Mahalleinir]

Mike’s working that algorithm 😅 Happy Holidays my friend

[@dalmo8340]

Mike, I have tried Malazan 3x and gave up. Not for me, but all the best for old and new readers. Merry Xmas and Super 2021 for you and your family. 😎✌️

[@markbrown7242]

Spot on with Murderbot. All the reviews talked about how great it was so I was so pumped read it. Maybe my expectations were to high but I had to fight to finish it.

[@Mark-iv6yg]

It’s always important to remember how different books hit different people! I thought Lisey’s Story was one of the best books I’d read in years, but I read the Red Rising trilogy this spring and absolutely hated it, what do you do? Different strokes…

[@roxieswonderousworld]

This was a good video. Your videos always are. You say what didn't click for you but you're not negative about it. I agree with you about the murder bot books. I didn't get them at all. They wasn't for me. I haven't read Robin Hobb yet but I plan on reading the Farseers Trilogy in 2022. My biggest disappointment this year was Malazan as a whole. I read only the first 2 books but it was just too dense for me. I may continue it one day but for now it's on the backburner.

[@fangs1972]

This was so entertaining and you were so genteel about them, I wished there'd been twenty books!

[@siggyii]

I have no problem with anyone not liking books even if i might, opinions vary just like with music or movies. What i do like and respect about you and your channel is that you give an honest opinion and you will and do not throw anyone under the bus. We also seem to have some things in common like similar age both in years and when horror movies entered our lives etc and having followed your channel for some time now i do feel i can trust what you say and if you like a book or series it should be a save bet so thank you for being here and marry Christmas to you and your family and everyone here :)

[@clarkmcdonald6022]

First comment. Mike's Book Reviews is the GOAT booktube channel.

[@KyloRent]

Biggest disappointment for me was easily Dreamcatcher. I love King but man that book was rough.

[@stacielara9856]

Agreed. It got so wacky. I didn’t even finish it.

[@rolanddeschain6089]

The book is definitely a mixed bag. I found some passages great. I found it awesome at times, typically Stephen King. Then suddenly there were 200 pages that I really had to struggle through. Then again 50 good ones and again 100 more irrelevant ones. And so on. And that's not generally due to the pacing. I really like slow, inward-looking books. Here ... well.

[@andyreichert499]

For the Grisha books, I didn't like the first trilogy either, but I decided to give Six of Crows a try, and I'm not quite half way through, but it's so much better and is avoiding the tropes of the first trilogy.

[@AdzPower]

Agreed. Its significantly better. Gotta give props to Leigh Bardugo for actually working on her craft and improving.

[@danijelb.3384]

Read Ninth House. It’s probably her best work, although I do love Six of Crows

[@michaeltorres2412]

I also wasn’t blown away by The Murderbot books and Assassin’s Quest 😅 I got a lot of slack for telling my friends that. Glad someone else had a similar opinion.

[@FKDotFitzgerald]

That Blood Meridian take really surprised me but I totally get your perspective there.

[@atom0191]

Love your videos, Mike!

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I’m excited for this list!

[@yenneferalvarez7122]

Blood Meredian is a literary masterpiece!!

[@Wombatzu]

At first I thought it was funny, but this will be the last book-consoomer video I click on.

[@brightyell0wgun]

Ahh you’re the first person who I have seen that has summed up my feelings about Blood Meridian so well! I have liked other McCarthy books, but I just hated that one so much. And I can never understand why people love it so much

[@dpeady78]

Malazan in general - I was psyched to join a readalong and then 1/3rd of the way through 4th book I was just like “I really don’t like this… what’s the point?”

[@adampender2482]

Malazan and WoT are very overrated imo. Malazan is a series that's overly complicated and different just to be overly complicated and different. Erickson seems to hold the fantasy genre in contempt. Book 4 was the installment of the series I couldn't get past as well

[@Archonsx]

@@adampender2482 i kinda agree, but at the same time i don't, i've read mazalan in my native language, and i honestly feel like it's a 5/5 book, sure it requires the reader to use it's brain a lot, so it can be hard to read, anyway, i also tried to read the book in the english version, and i didn't like it, which is very strange

[@adampender2482]

@@Archonsx perhaps but I'm a civil war historian which requires a lot of intense study and reading so when I read a fantasy series I want a nice relaxing time. Right now I'm reading The Dark Tower and although very different I am enjoying it

[@jnbfilm56]

Check Blindness by Jose Saramago. Not sure if you'll like it, not the kind of read you're used to, I think, but its a must read for any book lover. Also if you're maybe looking for something a bit different, check Forgotten We'll Be by Hector Abad. Colombia's modern classic. There is a big chance is going to make you cry. Greetings from Colombia

[@kordo.93]

Lisey's story is one of my favorite SK books :-) So this video reminds me to be careful, when deciding not to read some book because of other person's opinion.

[@takayafang7855]

Ah, All Systems Red. I read it this year and I really loved it. But, with that series, you kind of have to be a person who has experienced depression or anxiety in some way to understand it. I, myself, have social anxiety disorder and I ended up relating a lot to murderbot and that made the awkwardness as well as the jokes funny to me. I totally get why people don't like but personally, I enjoyed it

[@chrisconnors7418]

Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking too. I laughed quite a few times at her inner dialogue because it often matched my internal dialogue in social situations.

[@edneragnarok]

Man we hav E opposite tastes apparently: house of chains was my favorite malazan book, and the fisherman is my favorite horror novel! Good video

[@jer2dabear]

Love the shirt!

[@ryanlee6214]

I’m sad House of Chains didn’t work for you as it’s in my top three Malazan books however I respect your opinion Mike. Still much love for you and your channel!

[@avlifeguard92]

5:04 - I had to read a book like that in high school, he could easily have two pages without a comma, period or any type of punctuation. I absolutely hated it, though I did manage to somehow enjoy the story. (Author was José Saramago, won a Noble Price, and his SciFi/dystopian book ''Blindness'' was made into a movie but I have yet to find the courage to read and watch those.) So I completely understand and relate to that. I'm glad I found your channel, I'll always looking for new fantasy books. :)

[@alynam82]

You definitely have valid criticisms, and with the Hyperion-verse, I hope you don't completely disregard Endymion based on your opinion of Fall of Hyperion. It's a different story, and a whole new experience-- literally like a new book set in the Hyperion universe (with tie-ins of course). It's a fellowship on a quest, and that's the best way I can sell it. Hey, if you DNF it 1/4 the way in, okay cool-- I'm just saying it's at least worth a try, some day anyways... That is all. I've said my piece 😌

[@avaleemurray1473]

I really appreciate that you watched the Swedish version of the Stieg Larsson film. :) I haven't watched the American version of it, myself, tad worried that it'll be all "Hollywoodised". But please do watch the rest of the trilogy, too, even if you don't fancy the books as much. It'll all tie together in the end, with a neat little bow on top. ;) Thanks for a great channel.

[@danijelb.3384]

Naw, the US version is actually surprisingly good.

[@DualFrodo]

How are your Malazan books in such good condition after reading them

[@Jabberwhorl_Cronstadt]

I'm one of those absolute freaks who looooooves House of Chains. But my table will remain grounded :)

[@d-light7915]

LoL, House of chains was my favorite malazan book this year.

[@paulinetayloe9988]

What book of malazan is it that they say one of the chapter of the book is like a novel itself?

[@calebmauer1751]

That would most likely be House of Chains, the first section of the book tells a focused story about one character.

[@bobofdeathtoall]

Is that Book of the New Sun in the background? Have you read it??

[@WordsinTime]

The Fall of Hyperion is one of my favourite books of all-time, but it is very different from Hyperion so I understand why some people might be disappointed with it. I also enjoyed the Endymion duology but it is even further away from what Hyperion was.

[@calebmauer1751]

Yeah, I liked the Fall of Hyperion. It's like the sci-fi equivalent of Steven Erikson's writing. I'm going to read Endymion next year.

[@WordsinTime]

@@calebmauer1751 I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it too! I think it’s best to view the Endymion duology as a different story but in the same universe with a few returning characters. Endymion is an adventure, and The Rise of Endymion is philosophical. Let me know what you think after you’ve read them!

[@protoplasma2953]

When I first read Hyperion I didn’t understand the hype, then I loved Fall of Hyperion. I thought it was a huge improvement and it was more like my favorite sci-fi books.

[@WordsinTime]

@@protoplasma2953 I’m glad to hear you loved it too! Have you read the Endymion duology? The Fall of Hyperion is my favourite book in the series but I enjoyed the next two as well.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Right with you on Dragon Republic and Assassin’s Quest!

[@Ulmo90]

Great list Mike! Of these, I read HoC and the Fall of Hyperion this year and Assassin's Quest. I found something to enjoy in all in them. HoC was so different to the other Malazan books, Karsa and the army was great, but the Whirlwind was too weird The fall of hyperion was very different ti Hyperion and the ending was confusing Assassins's quest felt like a book wurhout an editor, too long and too rushed at the end, even though I kind of liked the bittwrsweet ending

[@adiethadiatie7703]

Agree with you about assasin's quest 😅. Such a looonggg walk... But good writing takes you to the author's imagination..

[@emilyreads5207]

I will say I was somewhat disappointed in the ending of Assassin’s Quest- more so with how the dragons were made and brought to life. Agreed that the Fool becomes more fascinating. I was with you on the ship factor for Liveship Trader, but found that trilogy to be even better!

[@ravenbellebooks5665]

House of Chains is probably my third favorite Malazan book weirdly enough! But I get it - I honestly think Karsa just carried that book for me, and if it weren't for him it would be at the bottom of my Malazan list too.

[@TRUc972]

I’ve found Hobb does fall into that trap in other books further on in the ROTE. Looking back, I should have read a book, taken a break, come back to the next one etc as otherwise, rather than read three back to back. As the plodding nature can sometimes become too much and spoil the enjoyment

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

So, just curious . . . Whatcha gonna do with your Murderbot books? I might know someone who's interested . . . Just saying 😶

[@1998Canz]

Mate i can tell you I absolutely HATED the shadow and bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. However, both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom blew it out of the park. Great great books, please give em a try

[@Patrick.__]

My biggest disappointment was Project Hail Mary. I wasn't a fan of Weir's writing style, though it did have some genuinely fun moments.

[@MrJohnp93]

Try the frontier trilogy by Mccarthy, it's a lot more centered on the characters and the first 2 are 2 of my favorite books ever. I loved blood meridian, but it is a difficult book.... I had to try 2 or 3 times to get through it and yes when I finished it I was satisfied but it also left me tired

[@jamesellis1635]

Live ship traders book two is one of my favorites. And I agree assassins quest was a bit of a trudge. She sometimes sets up characters and just abandons them

[@therealdavemg5511]

*grabs popcorn* this is going to be good. Edit: made it to the end of the video and no tables were turned. Dont know about the the others, but I appreciate this list since it shows not every book you read is amazing, but you have your own preference.

[@ChasingForever]

Wow, I thought it was just me. I'm 75% through Assassin's Quest, and I loved books one and two, but Assassin's Quest is just going nowhere with me. Hobb is still one of my favorite authors, so I will finish this, and pick up her next trilogy. Great reviews!

[@catherinemckeown2746]

Please don't give up on Fitz, the next trilogy is amazing!

[@amandapelland]

Loved your take on Blood Meridian. I haven't read the book just they way you described your reading experience made me chuckle.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It was pure misery.

[@catherinemckeown2746]

I remember being disappointed with Quest, it's not the ending you expect. I loved Verity and wanted him to be back with his throne at the end. I was not going to read the next trilogy but I'm so glad I did!! The emotional payoff is so earned. It's long journey to get there but so worth it!

[@jaredschmidt8440]

I think you got sold the wrong pitch for Murderbot. I know how expectations can either make or break a book series. I experienced that with The Faithful and Fallen by John Gwynn. I thought the writing was average but efficient. I just expected so much more than I received from the read. Kind of like how some Wheel of Time first-timers feel from the hype versus reality. I think the hype is helpful, but it also has backlash when expectations get in the way of the actual experience. Anyway, love the channel, Mike. I always watch these thinking I’m watching a friend I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet. Thanks for the reviews, thanks for the content!

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I’m nervous about Liseys story. King says it’s one of his favorites….. most people I talk to don’t seem to like it.

[@dominicaudy8479]

I’ve been hesitating a lot over the Murderbot series, in part because despite the recommendations the blurbs didn’t sound that appealing to me, and in part because of the publishing strategy (I can’t really shake off the feeling these are overpriced novellas, read in 2h for the price of a novel that would last me the week, or a novella collection) I think your impressions finished to convinced me to pass for the time being (the first novella keeps showing up in ebook flash sales, so maybe one day I’ll cave in)

[@Jake-jw1dj]

I read all 4 novellas. Like Mike said, they really weren’t funny. Furthermore the plot for the first 4 novellas are exactly the same. It gets extremely repetitive and boring. They’re also very overpriced. The one big positive for the series is that they are an interesting character study. The author does a great job of representing social anxiety and the struggle it is to live with it. If you want to read them, just now the plot and humor are not very good. It’s a character study. That’s it. If you want to laugh, I recommend Discworld.

[@dominicaudy8479]

@@Jake-jw1dj That was first recommended to me in a tweet by one of the Expanse authors (as ideas for what I could tackle next), but that’s his one suggestion in the lot I haven’t acted on. You leave me with the same feeling Mike did that it’s probably not for me (I often differ in degree with him about how much I like or don’t like something, but so far I rarely disagree with him on the whole about a book). Thanks.

[@JolienReads]

I heard similar things about Murder Bot so I think I'll let those pass by for now. It's a shame because a good novella from time to time is awesome. Seeing a Realm of the Elderlings book on the list hurts my soul but I can see why you don't like it. I do think everything after this one, you'll love!

[@thisandthat418]

Oh what a shame you were so let down by Assassins Quest, i agree it does drag on a bit so I get it, but rest assured the series improves in every way moving forward and hopefully you will be back on board the Hobb train soon ☺️

[@secondaccount1688]

I completely agree about the Murderbot series, I couldn’t even finish book one. However, I loved House of Chains...all except the first part with Karsa, I couldn’t wait to get on with the rest of the story😂.

[@rkgrkg]

Murderbot didn't click with me either, unfortunately. Planning to read Hyperion in the new year, probably the first one only. :) I REALLY dislike flashbacks. Next to dream sequences, they are the most tedious things for me to read, even if written well. I'd rather read a paragraph summary that's a little more tell-y than be ripped out of the present for a whole scene or more of flashback.

[@RedFuryBooks]

Glad I wasn’t the only one who found Lisey’s Story lacking.

[@mattjones4415]

I feel the same about the Fisherman. Didn't like the flashback. Loved the first part and was totally captivated with those two characters. But it lost me in the middle

[@DanExploresBooks]

I had the same experience with Murderbot this year. Got thw whole set because I was so confident I would like them. I DNFed the series after book 1. I just did not get what people found so endearing about it. was so disappointed at how much it just did not connect with me even a little bit.

[@andrewturner4873]

I love the fisherman

[@danijelb.3384]

I think you should try Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. That’s the one I think you’d like

[@bryanbjorne1156]

If you want to try another leigh bardugo book you should check out her adult fansity book ninth house

[@williamallen2413]

I am curious to see what you think of the Liveship trilogy. I have read 3 of her trilogies, including that one, and I quit reading her. She is really great at creating good characters, and is a great idea writer, but I feel that she never quite learned how to do story structure so that her books flow properly from point A to B to C, etc. I enjoyed all 3 of her trilogies that I read, but feel that I had to work to hard to get that enjoyment. Say what you want about Sai King, but even in his most bloated, non-sensical books (Tommy knockers, Dreamcatcher) I always feel like I am caught in a raging river with no choice but to go where he wants to take me. To many times in her books I felt like I was trying to swim upstream.

[@alexandreung6701]

I totally agree with your impression of assassin’s quest. The story did not hold my attention for the same reasons you listed. I lot of walking to find verity with not much happening.

[@sjholmesbrown]

Sorry to hear you didn't click with All Systems Red, I think I picked it up based just on the description you gave before reading it and blitzed the whole series within a couple of weeks. But as you said, when you read this many books not everything will be an instant hit.

[@maniactoon5563]

I didn't get why Murderbot had so much hype after book 1 either. However, the 2nd book caught my interest a little more and by book 3 I realized I was still reading because I loved the characters. I don't really read Murderbot for the humor. I'd encourage you to give the sequels a chance (maybe read them as palette cleansers).

[@codygrannemann9506]

I've never read Lisey's Story yet, but my mom said she wasn't a huge fan of it (and she loves King too)

[@abadyr_]

to me "The poppy war" trilogy is like the Chinese civil war (and associated foreign involvement) during/after WW2, but much less interesting, with uninteresting characters and a more black and white approach to them, mostly based on which culture they are from.... I was more engaged by actual historical analysis of the events. (by which I mean these where actually very interesting. I don't mean to implied these bored me and the books even more so). I must point out I did not (yet?) finish it. I've red the first, and I don't remember if I stopped in the middle of the 2nd or 3rd. It was probably the second, since it was about the Kuomintang. And I figure the last one will be the rise of communism/the MC, and probably the struggle against the europeans/americans...

[@abbywonder3825]

I’ve heard you say before that you don’t unhaul....but since you talk about no more room, maybe you can unhaul some of these?

[@abbywonder3825]

Also, I DNFd Lisey’s Story at 60%. Hated it lol

[@TwoSketchers]

yo your harry potter mina lima edition is upside down if you didn't notice

[@angelaholmes8888]

I finished heart shaped box it was good but nos4o2 is still my favorite book from joe hill I'm definitely will continue reading his books

[@aysseralwan]

I agree that Assassin's Quest dragged on and is the weakest book in the Farseer Trilogy but the ending is very important to the later books so in retrospect it's better than you might think. Tho I totally can see how it's a disappointing I remember myself reading it and feeling like at first it's too slow and at the end they won the war like in a paragraph or so

[@MISTADROP]

I didn’t even finish Blood Meridian. It was so terrible, and the no quotation immediately turned me off.

[@MrTurtleMob]

You're not alone on Assassin's Quest. It BORED ME to the point where I left the series. There are too many good and interesting books out there for me to read.

[@shawngillogly6873]

Yep. Not only did it bore me to tears. I felt insulted. Because the answer to the Dragon problem is literally staring everyone in the face for 150 pages. And nothing happens. When every character is made an idiot to hold fire on the plot, the natural conclusion is the writer assumes you're an idiot who can't see it.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

You're missing out by stopping RotE. Liveships has a totally different feel. Then back to Fitz.

[@edsheeran1243]

Shadow and bone is easily the most bland and meh series I have ever read. Average world, average magic system, average characters, average villain, the list goes on...... Glad to know someone finally agrees with me on that 😂 Six of Crows is definitely better, but it's still very much YA

[@maxkronader5225]

For military fantasy try pretty much anything by Harry Turtledove.

[@toddJM1015]

If you did like the way Leigh Bardugo writes and her ideas and want to try something outside of her YA stuff, may I suggest Ninth House. An adult nior-ish fantasy/horror thriller that allows her to really shine outside of the tropes of YA.

[@LeeKennison]

My biggest disappointments of 2021 were your reviews of "House of Chains", "Assassin's Quest", and "Fall of Hyperion." Just kidding, but I just had to go for the spoof of turning it back at you. Love your channel, I would just prefer if you agreed with me all the time.😉 That's how the world is supposed to work, right? In all seriousness, I really did like those three books.

[@justjuanreader]

Assassin’s Quest! Oh yes! I Also put it on my worst of the year video. However, 6 Hobb books did make it into the best of the year! So do not despair, it gets better

[@sentinelshoshin4632]

Ilium is really good, but as far as Hyperion goes, I personally prefer the Endymion duet over it. I recommend you give it a shot.

[@Marcus-id5ur]

As someone who reread the first 13 Elderlings books this year, I'd put Assassins Quest in the bottom third. Lots of good books upcoming so don't give up on the series. Though maybe grit your teeth and endure the first two Rainwilds books.

[@JB-wc9fz]

Liveship Traders is Hobb’s best trilogy. I hope you eventually read it.

[@teksnotdead902]

Never read Blood Meridian…but I enjoyed the Road and No Country for Old Men….although I have several criticisms about the latter. His trend on bleak is something I only like to dabble with occasionally tho.

[@SlowBoBods]

Biggest dissapointment for me was the name of the wind. I hated it. I got to 120 pages so I really did try but man, never again.

[@AutomailUser]

Murderbot may not be the greatest thing in the world but I liked it a lot. The thing I say though is that if you're going to read them, read all four novellas in quick succession. They each act like one chapter or act of one full novel. Honestly, I wish that they were published in an omnibus instead of individually, especially since they are so expensive for their length. Honestly, I'd love to see a four part limited series for Murderbot one day. Make each novella a 45 minute to one hour episode.

[@kurtbeck3400]

I think you'll like Ilium by Dan Simmons, it's got some very interesting ideas.

[@robertpatenaude]

Overall, I liked the Farseer Trilogy, but I totally agree that the ending of the third book was rushed. The ending could have been expanded by the couple of hundred pages that should have been cut from the middle. The ending felt like "and everything worked out in the end!"

[@bryanbjorne1156]

Read her ships of magic trigily they are her best books

[@nl3237]

Happy Holidays, Mike. Hope your mother will continue to go well. Thanks for the great content. I've never read so much Fantasy and Sci-fi in my life and I LOVE it. I value your opinion, although I really don't like grimdark fantasy and horror. I didn't like Assassin's quest either. I felt like all Fitz went through were fillers... But I'll still continue on with the next trilogy, though.