Ranking 10 Fantasy Books (which are worth your time?)

It is time for another wrapup where we rank my 10 past reads from worst to best!
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0:00 - Intro
0:12 - DNF
0:34 - Want to give a 2nd chance
1:05 - 10
2:22 - 9
3:35 - 8
4:52 - 7
5:28 - 6
6:25 - 5
8:06 - 4
9:25 - 3
11:28 - 2
12:00 - 1
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[@kingkusnacht]

All 4 books of the Hyperion Cantos are great, particularly the 2nd and 4th one! Don't let people dissuade you from continuing. Some people just go into sequels with specific expectations of what the answers should be and are then disappointed if it goes in a different creative direction. That' practice has become a kind of common thing in Scifi communities unfortunately, but most people really love all 4 Hyperion books!

[@user-mc9sg9fw3w]

I agree

[@lizc.214]

Good to know! I'll put them all on my tbr list😊

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! This is helpful!

[@erikaeriksson9840]

Really curious about Hyperion. Need to check this one out for sure!

[@jaycarr5906]

I totally agree that Tad Williams is a gorgeous writer, it makes the slower parts so much more enjoyable. That third book is huge but I guess its good for you in the UK that its broken into two books. Here in the states, it's just one over a thousand-page doorstopper. lol.

[@Talking_Story]

Yessss! Hyperion for the win! If you enjoyed I am Legend check out some of the short fiction work by Charles Beaumont. Along with Serling and Matheson those 3 gents were responsible for some of the most memorable classic Twilight Zone episodes.

[@BenJiggins]

Really pleased you're reading Shadows of the Apt, one of my all-time favourite series. I'm half way through To Green Angel Tower - the quality is maintained! And I'll be reading Dandelion Dynasty later this year, I'm very much looking forward to it.

[@Abken.]

Yumi was a fantastic book. I'm not really into Romance, especially this style cringy anime-like romance, but I actually loved it lol. It was super enjoyable and easy to read. I loved the comparison between the 2 characters' lifestyles and how they don't fit in their own worlds but they fit in the "alien" world of the other. I really liked the philosophy in this antithesis. The book is not crazy deep but it was very relatable and made me think more philosophically than it was supposed to really be

[@nataliethompson5266]

I feel motivated when I see these series wrap up. I’ve been more focused on finishing series over the last year. So I’ve finished 13 series since April 2023. I’ve read Mistborn era 1, Memory,Sorrow, and Thorn, Texicalaan, and The First Law. I’m currently working on Shadows of the Apt so that will take some time!

[@Greenslime300]

Hyperion is a cheat code, I've spent years trying to find a new favorite book and there just hasn't been one that's hit me the same way

[@stylianosk1411]

Really enjoy your channel You inspire me to read great books Cheers Take care

[@jayspeijer614]

Excellent analysis of Tad Williams’ work and writing style. Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is my all-time favourite series. Check out his other series as well. They don’t reach the same heights but all are enjoyable and unique. Tad is not afraid to break fresh ground!

[@Abken.]

Osten Ard Saga is in my TBR but everyone says how slow paced it is.. I'm glad that so many people say they are not into slow-paced books but really digged Osten Ard Saga. Maybe I should give it a try too I love Hyperion 1, but couldn't finish the 2nd book

[@alexappel4815]

I would definitely read the second Hyperion book, but maybe give it time to let your theories run rampant before getting your answers, the two Endymion books are definitely connected, but also they're own duology in a lot of ways. Overall though, choosing to read that series was one of the best decisions I've made

[@Tanarosblack]

I am glad to see that you liked the Empire in Black and Gold. I have read the entire series a while ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is truly epic, vast in scope, even tragic at moments, has great characters and really innovative ideas, which is not very common these days. It is among the most underrated fantasy series IMO. If you happen to read this comment, I would sincerely recommend the Sundering duology by Jacqueline Carrey, and the Caine series by Matthew Stover, the two most underrated fantasy titles ever.

[@noname3609]

Oh man,I loved Yumi such a spiritual and cool journey it was ! :D

[@libraryofaviking]

A great read!

[@ilsevanlegos7529]

Agree with many of your choices. Good video.

[@la8920]

My favorite cosmere standalone is The Final Empire. I recommend it to anyone who wants to start reading Sanderson but is afraid of getting caught in too many books. This one's perfect for you

[@lucycallaway7613]

I’ve heard a lot of people say they were bored with this book but A Natural History of Dragons is one of my favorites because of how the author writes. All be it the first book isn’t the best but the others just kept getting better. It’s the memoir of a natural history and her life chasing dragons. I see you reading a lot of unknown authors so I thought you might at least give it a look.

[@lorifrederick2367]

I have this book in my TBR pile. I love the drawings, and the brown print text. It looks like a delightful book!

[@jenniferclark677]

That edition of Never Die is beautiful! I have two collections of Chinese Sci Fi stories translated by Ken Liu and cant decide if I want to read those or Dandelion Dynasty first.

[@libraryofaviking]

Stunning!

[@knotslip8862]

Thanks for the video. I have a suggestion for you from Bradbury. If you like coming of age stories, read Dandelion Wine. Its a very well written coming of age story and one of my favorite classics. Take care!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! I will look up Dandelion Wine!

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Fun video 🙌🏼 Love Rob J.; Yumi looks like fun; Empires is in my TBR; ❤ I Am Legend ❤ fun to watch all three film adaptations 🤪; bumping Tad up the list 🤔; 💛 Dandelion Dynasty 💛; Hyperion is up after I finish Green Bone. Good to know🙌🏼

[@erikaeriksson9840]

The Liveship trilogy by Robin Hobb is excellent! I'll recommend Ship of Magic to anyone who are into the fantasy genre! I really enjoy The Rain Wild Chronicles as well but Dragon Keeper is the worst of those four books for sure. It picks up pace in the last two.

[@SpacedOutWizard]

I really want to check out I am Legend now!

[@wrustria]

i despised dragon keeper, but i LOVEEEEDD dragon haven😂😂.

[@focusrelax8838]

3:21 isn’t stormlight archieve a progression fantasy?

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

And this is why I like your channel. One of the very rare people who agrees with me that Yumi's probably the best of the standalone Cosmere so far. A very solid list of books in general! And, thanks for the reminder I really do need to read Rob J. Hayes at some point.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@dustynattaway5669]

Where did you get the hardcovers for the Shadows of the Apt? I can’t find them anywhere!

[@danielhall5238]

These are the broken binding editions. They have just released book 5 (scarab path) which has about 60 copies left and then in a couple months they will release the next one. I started buying them from the 3rd book onwards and have found the other two online. Absolutely worth it!!! (About £27 per book)

[@dustynattaway5669]

@@danielhall5238 I can never find broken binding books anywhere. I’m in the US. Maybe I just don’t know where to look?

[@LuvLuke954]

What is a “progression fantasy”? What does that mean?

[@MC-qr7ju]

Bro, Fall of Hyperion is truly the second half of the story. I HIGHLY recommend it. It takes the character arcs to new heights - without diminishing the impact of the first. At least read book two!

[@devontyler7992]

The Final Architecture Trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky, is a sci-fi series that I found to be a great read. Recommend to anybody wanting to read Sci-Fi

[@MacScarfield]

Really looking forward to start on «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn» this Summer, and yes, «Dandelion Dynasty» is truely amazing and underated: «Grace of Kings» (#1) is my favorite Fantasy Read written in the last 10 years, and when I finished the series last year, «The Veiled Throne» (#3) was my dual favorite read of last year (together with Guy Gavriel Kay’s «Under Heaven»)!

[@wizconsin6104]

Where do you find d those dandelion dynasty editions?

[@libraryofaviking]

It's the UK covers!

[@wizconsin6104]

@@libraryofaviking is there any way to get them in the states? I’ve always thought they looked great

[@libraryofaviking]

@@wizconsin6104 You can probably order them from the Amazon UK store. The Broken Binding are also currently doing a special edition of the set if you are interested!

[@safinan8008]

Hi 👋 like ur book list 😊thank you for a great video🎥🎥🎥📼🗞️📽️

[@ernstbrehm1135]

Loved Hyperion, one of my favorite books ever. The Fall of Hyperion was very good. Endymion was ehh. The Rise of Endymion I DNF, unfortunately. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the last two books.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I keep hearing book 2-4 are not nearly as good so I am worried!

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Your Hyperion take is the same as my Ender's Game fears 😬😳🥴

[@timothyburbage]

Is this what Allen was ranting about?

[@vrushalikhodaskar564]

Can anyone suggest me a good book. I am starting to read. Pls

[@knotslip8862]

What do you like? Do you want sci-fi or fantasy or something else? What do you want to read about? Tell me a little more and I will make some suggestions. :)

[@vrushalikhodaskar564]

I think fantasy. Don't know anything else much

[@knotslip8862]

@@vrushalikhodaskar564 I would suggest The Hobbit by J. R. Tolkein or The dark Elf trilogy by R. A. Salvatore (the first book is called Homeland). These are two that really got me into reading fantasy. Hope you give them a try.

[@vrushalikhodaskar564]

​@@knotslip8862thanks a lot

[@ladyethyme]

I DNF'd that Bradbury book too lol

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

DNF Bradbury and not sloggy Hobb 🤦‍♀️😬🤣 I haven't read any Hobb yet just find that humorous 😉

[@focusrelax8838]

1:43 How can authors be publish with a book like this that’s so slow and boring?? Lease someone help Me with an answere

[@NOYFB982]

Because the Dandelion Dynasty’s first book is painfully slow and dull, at least the first part.

[@MohamedElkammar]

The video is very hard to hear. You speak too fast and the audio quality could be a lot better. Also keep the title and author names up a little longer

[@michaelholland6533]

I didn’t have this experience at all. Weird.

[@momo_genX]

I don't know anything about Robin Hobb or her previous books. Thank you for calling out the absurdity of the writing the trend of horny teenagers to sell books.

[@tanja9364]

This was not a ‘trend’ when Hobb wrote these books. Her Realm of the Elderlings series (16 books including these dragon ones) are my favourite of all time (and I’ve read a LOT of fantasy over many years), and I can only assume her publishers pushed her to do this as it is not her normal writing style. Now, these books are, yes, not up to her normal standards of writing , BUT they add so much to the end story and explain so much. Please, if you haven’t read Hobb, don’t assume you will hate her writing from a review of her weakest book!

[@momo_genX]

@@tanja9364 thank you for the heads up and info. I was certain that it wasn't a BookToc ACOTAR type thing, as I wouldn't think this Viking guy would pick a book like that up, unless to move it out of the way to put a drink at his redheaded cousin's house. Satire!

[@tanjamcfadyen209]

@@momo_genX No problem! Please though, if you love fantasy, read Hobb from the beginning (Farseer trilogy, Liveships, Tawny Man trilogy, Rainwild Chronicles, Fitz & the Fool, in that order) They can be slow(ish) but persevere, they really are THAT good.

[@SneakyNinjaDog]

"almost nothing happens" sums up all the Robin Hobb I have read. Not a fan.