Fantasy Tournament - Week 7 & 8
In the past two weeks, I read "The Blade Itself" and "The Emperor's Soul" till the 25% mark and chose some new samples for next week!
The Blade Itself vs. The Emperor's Soul
Let's start with "The Emperor's Soul." The magic system is at the forefront, "as per usual for Sanderson." It's a fast-paced, pleasant read with a satisfactory story. I'll get back to it one day.
As for "The Blade Itself." Its character-oriented storytelling revolving around amazing, layered characters continues to pique my interest. Glokta is still at the top of my list, the story's most interesting character. Jezal, West, and Ninefingers are going strong, too. I can't deny the unique appeal of Ninefingers' storyline. I can't wait to read more about the Magi in the second quarter of the book. And the way that the first quarter of the book ended?! Setting up the potential conflicts in both North and South?! Chef's kiss.
Wayfarers vs. Realm of the Elderlings
"Wayfarers" series is a space opera, but not another "men doing stuff in space." It's more of a cozy sci-fi, with diverse and lovable characters. I like its premise, though I'm not sure I'd like to read it right now.
"Realm of the Elderlings" is categorized as a classic, high fantasy. It's one of the most liked series of all time. It's another promising story with a woman writer, and I'm all here for it.
Pern vs. Red Rising Saga
"Pern" sounds like wholesome for some reason. It's something old-school and nostalgic about its setup and premise. I'm not sure if it'll be able to keep me excited throughout, but I'm willing to give it a try at this stage.
"Red Rising Saga" sounded promising, but I felt skeptical when I read the premise and some of the top reviews. It wasn't the right book for me, with its sci-fi setting and a "too good to be true" type main character.
Next week, I'll get back to reading "Jade City," and maybe I'll read "The Blade Itself" here and there so as not to lose track of the story. And as always, I'll read some newly selected samples.