It’s difficult to describe without analogies and metaphors but here is a few: The character building is equivalent to characters in your average popular anime, rather than an Emmy/Oscar winning performance in a Christopher Nolan film. The World building was in depth, I must say, but the prose was lacking the “glue” to make it stick. Discovering the magic system felt more like grinding a video game to unlock the next set of powers. It is far far FAR from what a REAL literature can provide. There was no Art to it. It was a methodically designed story, that is good enough to keep you turning the page, but required no effort from the reader whatsoever to grasp the themes that were hardly present. Sanderson is an author I would recommend to someone who doesn’t like reading. Because odds are if they don’t like reading, it’s because they don’t have the patience or imagination to appreciate real literature. This book took no risks. It had no revelatory feel. It was an amazing story, written by someone that just wanted to finish their assignment as fast as they could. Brandon has a good outline, a good method, but his delivery is awful. This book is the rebel moon of fantasy. (Horribly written Netflix movie with loads of cgi, and contrived character work) .

My goodness, I wanted to pause after every sentence and agree with it. Even the analogies were near the same as me. Instead of instant coffee though I would compare the Sanderson prose to bottom shelf cheap wine served in an expensive crystal glass and goes down like flavored water. As for the nearest comparison I would have to choose Dan Brown if Dan Brown did not have interesting premise. His characters are predictable and have motivations chosen from the subreddit 'I am 12 and this is deep'. I could go on and on but this is enough for one comment.

Subscribed. Thanks for the honest review, I felt the same way but only got two chapters in, hated almost every scene. As an aspiring writer who's watched almost all of his lectures its unfortunate to see that he takes a sort of "Do as I say not as I do"

I agree with you on a lot of this, although I did really enjoy this book. I read the second one in the series and thought it was “meh”. Then I tried Oathbringer, got through about half and just slogged through the rest of it. It was painful to finish.

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for letting me know, Gina! I will probably not be continuing on with this trend of fantasy.

@Ciervorelajado

Жыл бұрын

I am having the same exact experience with third. I don’t want to left it unfinished, but have a couple books more in the pipeline. Is the ending decent at least?

@Stradequit

9 ай бұрын

​@@Ciervorelajadoevery Sanderson book is better in the back third. I dropped reading Stormlight 4 for over a year, I came back to it and read the last 600 pages in a week because they were so much better.

@Ciervorelajado

9 ай бұрын

@@Stradequit Oathbringer wasn’t for me. I finished and dropped the series. I tried also Abercrombie but I guess that new fantasy authors are just not my cup of tea, so I started digging in sci-fi and I’m enjoy a ton of amazing new stuff

I've enjoyed every one of his books that I've read and experienced first hand what people love so much about his books but when I see people putting his works as some of the best fantasy ever I feel like I didn't read the same story. This video was honestly really refreshing because of that. I'm glad that I can agree with most of your criticisms and still enjoy the books. Great video! The one thing I really disagree with is that anyone who enjoys the book has bad taste. I don't think generalizations like that ever make sense. Definitely popcorn fantasy but I'm glad it exists. One thing I do hate is when people try and defend his prose, he calls it "clear window" style prose and his argument is basically that fancy writing distracts from the actual story which is just such a terrible opinion I think.

@drakesacrum8445

11 ай бұрын

@@chandlerholloway3900 Well, this take aged like milk.

I managed to slog my way through the first two Stormlight novels. The third one finally stopped me dead in my tracks. Never went back to the series.

I actually liked it, I like the mystery of Roshar and why thing are as they are, what the hell is Stormlight, Voidbringers, Sprens, Shadesmar etc. and I think Brandon has the ability to explain these subjects but not feeding it too much to us readers in order for us to know more and in the climax he takes all that we know of the magic system so far and uses it to deliver such an epic battle between good and bad and ugly. The difference between Brandon's way of writing and Rowling's or Tolkein's (haven't read Robin Hobb yet so cannot compare with her) is that Brandon likes to explain to the very core how his magic system works what's its limits? When can you use it? Which people can use it? Why can you use it? Why doesn't it work sometimes? What sides effects does it have? Whereas with other stories you just have that mysterious ability and that's all you need to know, that's why his books can be weapons for how long they are like this comment that I'm writing. 😅 Brandon Sanderson's way of writing is probably for everyone's taste, his premise is very slow and that's okay, I don't disagree.

I don't really like this series but I've never personally read anyone say they are hard to read...I also wish you had some examples of issues instead of just vague things like "it's like super hero movies" "it's tacky" I don't understand why booktube people can't ever take notes or provide examples of anything.

Books and writing is an art not math

@apflel2987

28 күн бұрын

Math is art as well

I think you are probably right about this book given I have read mistborn 1 and found it unimpressive, but I think you need to articulate your thoughts a little better. I know you said its a rant, but rants do little in the long run. If I were doing a review, I would have peeled the book apart by showing how other books do specific dramatic elements better, using quotes for comparison to make the audience fully understand the problems. But doing that would require too much time possibly.

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to your reviews. Thank you.

@willrock8194

2 жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader Just curious, what do you think is your favorite fantasy novel, I might give it a try.

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

@@willrock8194 The Neverending Story by Michael Ende is to this day my personal treasured favorite. Really beautiful, exquisite, thought-provoking, mysterious fantasy filled with awe and the uncanny. Very much the opposite of Sanderson.

I agree with you on a lot of points but I still do enjoy Sanderson's works. I'm a big lover of Hobb, Tolkien, and Gaiman like you but I've read and liked most of Sanderson's works (except Elantris, his first book, it was awful to get through). While his later books do get better writing style wise they still are no where near queen Hobb if you're at all curious lol. But that being said, I also enjoy a lot of scientific and geeky stuff in my books so the detailed and orderly magic systems appeals to me as well as the action sequences. But yes, the lack of beautiful writing is definitely the big downside to his books that some can easily overlook (I know a few people that even scoff at the mention of 'beautiful writing' as pretentious drivel to which I had to just bite my tongue haha). I really enjoyed the review even as a Sanderson reader but I just like to add in my two cents that there is a third option of people who enjoy the high prose writers as well as the tacky sugar high books where we can get 'em. 🥰

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

There’s a place for all of us! Agreed. Even though I might not like this particular kind of fantasy, the more diverse reading world we have, the better.

What I really feel about Sanderson's writing is that it reads like a first draft. It needs ton of editing and a good chunk of the lenght could be cut. And personally I feel like a lot of the information is forced down ones throat rather than presented like small, shattered treats to discover. For example he will straight out tell the reader what is happening in the scene like it would be part of a script for a screen. I DO not need to be told the characters are planning to go to a ball if it has been mentioned in a previous scene and they are dressing up in ballgowns!

I am going through Sanderson crisis. I like his books (not all) but get annoyed when lots of people call him the biggest since Tolkien or someone like that. He is a craftsman, very prolific craftsman too with a good contact with his fandom.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

Completely agree. I also find him extremely likable, seems like a genuinely good, kind person. Wish his work resonated with me

I’m a huge Sanderson fantasy fan (I don’t much like his non-fantasy stuff) but I can totally understand a lot of your points. I think they’re actually things that a lot of fans will admit are true. I love the way of Kings and consider it a tough read, but not because of the prose, more because of the commitment you have to make to see it through to the end. The pacing can also be tough with all the viewpoint characters and the constant starting and stopping of momentum, though when I say tough it’s practically YA compared to a lot of what’s out there. And, admittedly, there’s some pretty terrible spots. Shallan’s introduction for me is the first of a few spots that immediately made me want to jump ship. Any scenes that are written to be particularly witty also come off kind of cringe most of the time. But I’ve come to the realization after thoroughly enjoying the series as a whole that what I enjoy most isn’t the prose or the dialogue, but the actual story that’s being told. Sanderson books always have a really well thought out ending that read more like a screenplay in some ways. A lot of people consider the Cosmere the MCU of fantasy, and I think it goes beyond the shared universe. They’re basically popcorn films but in book form. On the one hand, it means you’re probably not going to read anything that’s particularly poetic. On the other, you’ve got some really amazing scenes that, despite some of your earlier points, I would certainly call epic. The final scene of Way of Kings involving Kaladin, then Dalinar’s speech about “what is a life worth”. Granted, everything is subjective and it might not hit the same for everyone, but these really got me. I would also disagree about the characters not getting development, but to be honest I haven’t read most of the fantasy authors you talked about (though Hobb is on my short list, will get to those soon). TLDR: i think Sanderson is more popular due to the overarching stories rather than the sentences on the page. Some of the prose/dialogue is really bad, but the overall story being told is usually masterful in my opinion. Anyways great video, I love to see different opinions :)

Thanks. I was really feeling alone on this one. I read a lot. I do like fantasy, but not just fantasy. And for me, if this is your favorite book, I have to assume its because you are crazy young, like 13 or something and read only this genre. Or maybe you read it at a formative time in your life and have nostalgia for it. I have tried to read this 5 times. I'm failing right now. I want to finish it but I don't know if I can make it. I'm just trying to get deep enough into the book the see what everyone is talking about. I'm 650 pages in and I feel like everyone is exactly where they started. And the language is so dull. It's colorless. I just don't understand. At one point, you called it quite readable. I get what you mean, but for me it's almost intolerable. I can understand what I'm reading (most of the time when its not some silly fantasy word he invented), but man is it hard to keep going. I think your choice of word "repressed" is the perfect word for this. It's not intriguing, not as clever as it thinks it is, not funny nor sad. I can't feel anything. It does not challenge me. And I don't see how any adult could feel engaged with this. It makes me feel nothing. It drives me into a state of complete indifference when I started with curiosity.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

Colorless. Absolutely right!

@rashid8646

Жыл бұрын

I read this book when I was 15-ish and liked it. I even bought the sequel at a launch for a pretty high shipping cost when it came out and spent a whole school week reading it in my free time. Then I tried to re-read I about a year later and bounced off of it. Didn't know why at the time, I think I chalked up my inability to get into it to the cringeworthy lack of cursing in the book. At the time I was also reading GoT, Joe Abercrombie, Kingkiller and the like. Last year I was re-reading all of my favorite fantasies (and some new ones). I had just finished reading the entirety of Hobbs' Fitz trilogies and decided to re-read WoK for nostalgia's sake. It was just terrible. I couldn't get past the first three chapters. The characters were incredibly flat and archetypal, the sense of grandeur the world had for me when I first read it was gone and I really felt like I was reading through a World of Warcraft campaign or something. One example of the inferior writing style - the little missives at the start of each chapter, meant to drop some kind of esoteric lore, were so... functional rather than interesting. Comparing them to the same concept in the Lightbringer series, where they were full of character and became embedded with so much more meaning when the mysteries behind them were unraveled. I definitely agree that I don't want to see more Sanderson-style authors crop up. I hope that fantasy's wildly popular mainstreaming (since it hit TV and film in a really major way) won't lead it into the same rut that sci-fi writing has been in for a generation.

@matthewchatman7989

Жыл бұрын

@@rashid8646 You know, I finally finished this book and the best thing I can say is that at least Brandon Sanderson seems like a very kind man, and he has gotten many people into reading where they might not have picked up a book otherwise. I'm a fan of all the authors you just mentioned. Hobb, Abercrombie, Martin, Rothfuss etc. So glad you discovered them. When I was younger I also loved comics like Fantastic 4, X-Men, Batman etc. And I still enjoy many classics from the likes of Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, the Hernandez Bros. Etc. And I grew up reading popular genre defining series like Harry Potter, Tolkien, and such. Many books from many expansive nerdy mythos like video game novels and Star Wars etc. I've expanded what I read to include things well outside of traditional fantasy. And my advice is always to tell people to read widely. Literary fiction, alnernate history, plays, science fiction, nonfiction, noir, erotica, etc. Try bits of everything. Invariably, when we return to old once beloved works after some time and many other books, we'll do so looking through different eyes. But sometimes things don't change. I've outgrown some of my childhood favorites or edgy things I liked as a teen, but I also still love returning to many of them if they hold up. Something about Sanderson just doesn't work. It's not that it's too kid friendly. It's not that it's not dark enough. There's a bizarrely lifeless quality to it that doesnt feel intentional on the part of the author. Not even when he's writing a pov that is a character steeped in depression. His writing just doesn't convince me. It doesn't make me feel what the characters are feeling. It doesn't make me root for them or even rally me to turn against them if they're in the wrong. And that's what good fiction must do. You've got to feel something by proxy. You've got to feel challenged and carried away. The author has to ensnare you through the magic of their language, through promises fulfillled and broken, through careful handling and even more careful misdirection. This was the second Sanderson story I tried, and he hasn't managed this for me. But I'm glad he delighted you at least for a time in your life, and that you are reading widely.

@julianmeza8061

Жыл бұрын

I disagree! I’m 22 and read plenty of fantasy and this is my favorite series of all time. It’s just taste man

@matthewchatman7989

Жыл бұрын

​@@julianmeza8061 I don't like the book. At all. And I'm not gonna try to change your mind. But I'm genuinely curious. What are you comparing it to?

I'm left wondering: is the book tacky?

I agree. I read the first and second era of Mistborn (enjoyed the first, cringed the second) and I am currently at third book of Stormlight Archive (around page 400). It is making me want to end it but just to see it end. You have pointed every single issue I have with the story.

I almost died laughing when you started critiquing the character names looool, great video, agree with you on this one. Almost felt like I was crazy for not liking it

It's nice to see a review that coincides with my own opinion. I think you covered most of my issues with the novel. I also started with Mistborn as I already had the series purchased previously on my Kindle, so I figured I'd burn through them first before getting into Stormlight. And I really did not like Mistborn, I felt each book was actually worse than the last. BUT, I graded Mistborn on a curve. It was Sanderson's first novel. It's a YA novel series. Etc. Now, that still doesn't excuse the poor narrative experience I felt reading the series, after all Harry Potter is a first time novelist series and essentially a book geared towards children. And yet, it has good prose for its genre and a great sense of adventure and overall themes. Still, I was told that Stormlight Archive is SO much better. And how Sanderson basically "levels up" with Way of Kings. I figured I'd take the plunge even though the page count worried me. 1,000 pages for the first novel is a series? Who does he think he is?! Suffice to say, all the issues in Mistborn are pretty much all present in Way of Kings. The only benefit is that WoK actually has more world building than Mistborn, which had very little world building. Now, I went into WoK with the expectation that the prose would be very basic. I'd read Mistborn. I'd been told this by others. And Sanderson himself has described his "simplistic" and "basic" prose style as being a "clear window" into his world. Fine. But, that means I'm going to be paying far more attention to the actual story and characters since there is little enjoyment to be had in the actual prose. And you hit the nail on the head, this is not a difficult book to read. I feel that anyone saying that has either not read a lot or have not read much fiction that isn't fairly grounded. I feel the reason others claim the book is "difficult" to initially read is because Sanderson creates world that are NOT grounded or similar to our own real world. The weather, topography, flora, fauna, and societal structure are all VERY much different than anything on Earth or general human history. As a result, you cannot exactly ground yourself going in on much since it's all fairly alien. Still, this is just fiction 101 when it comes to building a fantastical world. Everything will be explained to you in the novel in due course and then explained 1,000 more times in case you didn't get it the first hundred times. If you have zero patience waiting to understand what a "spren" is, then sure this might be a "difficult" read. But anyone capable of sitting down and reading will find the book a very easy read. And so, with that out of the way we get to the story...which is basic, predictable, and overwritten. You know what's going to happen the majority of the time extremely early-on, but you have to read 700 pages before the predictable thing happens. Did anyone honestly think Dalinar was insane? Dalinar is a prime example because he's such a simple character. He's honorable and that's his only character trait. He's honorable and acts honorable and does honorable things. Did I mention how honorable he is? And so what is his major conflict for 1,000 goddamn pages? Whether he's insane and should abdicate his position or whether he should stay and try and trust his visions. Absolutely riveting stuff... Now, I'm not one to agree that a character needs to change or "have an arc" to be engaging or properly written, you can have a magnificent story about a character that does not change. However, you still need to make it possible for us to believe they may change or to challenge their beliefs. Ned Stark in ASOIAF is somewhat similar to Dalinar in being a man whose all about honor. Yet, Ned Stark is so engaging because his honor, and what is even supposed to be the honorable thing, is routinely put into question. It's gripping and engaging as you debate whether Ned Stark is doing the right thing has he navigates extremely complex and high-stakes scenarios while trying to maintain his concept of honor and morality. Dalinar, meanwhile, is not presented with any such challenges. He has his visions and that's really the only thing we are meant to focus on, which we as a reader know cannot be insane ravings of an addled mind. He never really has to put his honor into any difficult challenge. He's never really explored in any meaningful way, he just gets to look tough and bothered and tormented when in reality he's a static, boring, and threadbare character with not much going on under the helmet. And that goes for every character in the book. They are thin character traits masquerading as characters in a meandering story that doesn't really go anywhere and only serves to string you along until the next book where things may really start to happen. Sorry, but I'm not reading 1,000+ pages for you to tell me that the story doesn't actually start until the next 1,000+ pages. Let's not even get into those "repressed" elements you touched on. The lack of real romance, sex, meaningful women, etc. What's funny is for such an ALIEN and STRANGE fantasy world, sexuality and gender are as basic as the 1950's and before.

As a non English speaker who reads English fantasy I find Sanderson easy to access. In a world where streaming has taken over homes if he makes a lot of people I think it’s a win. I don’t think that is bad taste and that is “tacky” thing to say.

@ghostchick5275

3 ай бұрын

Intelligent television is better than poorly-written books.

@varunsukumar2366

3 ай бұрын

@@ghostchick5275 I believe any book is better than sitting in front of a tv. But that is just me and that is my opinion. My opinions are sometimes “tacky”.

I don't really dislike Sanderson, but agree with your points. I dropped Mistborn on first book. Read The Way of Kings but didn't find the courage to continue with other books of the saga. I always thought that Sanderson would be an excellent game designer, by the way

What do you recommend that’s been released lately? All of your recommendations are well established in the pantheon of classic fantasy. Any contemporary authors carrying the torch of good fantasy?

@justjuanreader

3 ай бұрын

The Spear Cuts Through Water, by Simon Jimenez. It’s not for everybody but it really blew my mind in terms of storytelling structure.

Thank you so much for this. Fantasy is going the way of Marvel and Branderson is spearheading this process. If you can imagine it, the books further into the series make Way of Kings seem like Shakespeare.

@niedude

Жыл бұрын

I'm both aghast and also happy to hear this. Aghast because Way of Kings is already such a mediocre book - at best - that I struggle to imagine how such a "highly rated" author can make it worse (but then I remember how bad his writing was in his earlier books, like Mistborn, and I know the answer). And happy because I'd like nothing more than for BrandoSando fans to finally drop his overrated ass

@devinkipp4344

Жыл бұрын

@@niedude You know I try not to go searching to confirm my opinion but I had to with Brandon's work. It had glowing reviews left and right and its the only fantasy book that I hear people I know IRL (I don't have a lot of reader friends) talk about and how much they loved it. I just finished reading the first two chapters of TWOK and it's, literally garbage. It is infuriating to read. How does one teach a writing class and actually give pretty solid advice on writing then turn around and do exactly the opposite of what he teaches. It is insane to me. I agree with the video at the 4 minute mark, low quality, low effort writing that should be a movie or maybe a comic book, not a book. To me I don't even consider Brandon an artist, he's creative and great at world building (well so I've been told) but nothing about his writing is art to me it feels so soulless and bland.

@niedude

Жыл бұрын

@@devinkipp4344 keep reading the book and youll realize he's also terrible at world building The guy works like an AI generating shallow concepts from an excel spreadsheet. His world's are bland and lifeless and unoriginal

@devinkipp4344

Жыл бұрын

@@niedude Funnily enough I compared him to an AI after reading what I did but that's an insult to current AIs. He's like the first chat bot talking in circles and repeating himself. You got an suggestions for something to read? Finishing the book I'm on now and though I'd pick up WOK but no way in hell I'd ever finish it.

@niedude

Жыл бұрын

@@devinkipp4344 have you read patrick rothfuss? I discovered him after having a terrible experience with Brandon Sanderson and desperately wanting to find something to wash my palate. He quickly became my favourite modern fantasy writer

Write by numbers. Sanderson writes like the ideas are modular - file the serial numbers off and republish.

So nice to listen to someone who shares some of my feelings about this book. I started WofR and got 200 pages deep before I threw in the towel.

While I don't agree with your opinon on Sanderson's writing - have to say that the video was really pleasant to watch :) Kudos to you for great presentation and awesome video!

You're right about this book not feeling like fantasy. It was what I call "white anime", specifically shounen manga. He appeals to the Marvel Comics crowd and he's too tame. But that was expected since he teaches at a Mormon university.

Have you tried John Gwynne? Shadow of the Gods is fantastic- has an interesting world/characters/plot and the tone is consistent. Gwynne is really underrated, his work is great.

I think many people like his books, because they like him. Sympathy bonus right here

Okay, I loved this book, but I totally agree on what you said about the magic system. There really wasn’t any sense of wonder or mystery that usually accompanies magic in fantasy, and so it felt a little boring knowing exactly how everything worked instead of being able to use your imagination to think about it.

I like this review and appreciate your opinions, however, I’m gonna have to disagree. My personal philosophy on reading and literature is to read to enjoy, I don’t analyse the text, think deep about things, I just read along and enjoy the ride. I think that maybe that was why I liked this book, because it is a fun story to read, with cool characters. I know some people don’t like Shallan but her humour is like mine so I love her. Dalinar is a hidden gem! Just my thoughts

@phroz3n

5 ай бұрын

One doesn't have to analyze his writing to know it's grating, repetitive, robot-like with no nuance. Sanderson treats his readers as if they're stupid by constantly explaining, over explaining, preaching, and repeating throughout the books. I guess if you enjoy that, more power to you.

I never read another Sanderson series, but The Way of Kings is one of my favorite books ever. It has some genuine philosophical depth, fantastic characters, amazing world building. He is no Ursula K Le Guin or J.R.R. Tolkien. He doesn't have the same ethereal qualitu that Tamora Pierce can conjure. But I love how unified the science and the magic in the book feel. The magic really feels a part of the world. I do think however that more criticism of his writing might do him some good. But he is not destroying fantasy.

@austinquick6285

Ай бұрын

If you think way of kings has philosophical depth, you simply need to read more bro. The book is written from a POV of emotionally immature adolescents.

@keaganwheeler-mccann8565

Ай бұрын

@@austinquick6285 I have read plenty. And continue to read. You can disagree, but I keep what I find. If I have found any depth to the Stormlight Archive, it is mine to keep. The right of any audience to any art.

@user-km9zn7oy4i

Ай бұрын

@@keaganwheeler-mccann8565 could you please discuss some of this philosophical depth that you find in the book? I ask because I cannot find any and maybe I am missing something.

@keaganwheeler-mccann8565

Ай бұрын

@@user-km9zn7oy4i It explores pretty well whether or not you can be honorable in a corrupt society. It is sort of a thought experiment. Can all these people who are seriously broken and messed up in the head, become better people, and will they be able to make the world better even when faced with the possibility of total annihilation. It explores right action and morality in warfare. Can armed conflict be right? I think it handles different kinds of trauma reasably ok, and to some extent helped me to work through my own. I think it is good art, it got me asking important questions of what is actually right in our world. I am not saying it is the most philosophically rich fiction series ever. But there are a lot of interesting places it can take you. At the very least it got me rereading Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Kierkagaard. Because Sanderson built a really fun sandbox for those themes.

@keaganwheeler-mccann8565

Ай бұрын

@@austinquick6285 Also I'd like to address the emotionally immature adolescant thing. Some of the best stories that contain wisdom in the world have vharacters that due to their selfishness, ignorance, or flaws fall short, or make mistakes, and end up having to face them. Kaladin does grow a lot, Shallan grows a lot, Dalinar grows a lot, Szeth grows. Will he stick the landing? Not sure. That will play a big part in how these characters are remembered.

Despite the fact I'm a fan of the man myself, I can agree Sanderson can't name things for shit. It especially bothered me in Mistborn where one third of the names were very English sounding, one third French, one third fantasy gobbledygook and there was never an explanation.

For me the main problem was that the writing felt very self indulgent. It’s one of those books that is overly long, not because the story needs it to be, but because the author’s ego seems to get in the way. Like the author believes he’s brilliant enough that he refuses to edit his own brilliant words. (Also, Shallan’s dialogues were the cringiest of cringy 😕 you can feel Sanderson trying SO hard to sound “wise”)

@marianamasbooks

2 жыл бұрын

Rules and overly long descriptions do not equal world building! I don’t get why modern fantasy authors seem to believe so...

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

Could not agree more! And yes, Shallan’s parts of the story (even though they were the most interesting for me), were filled with cringy dialogue!

@marianamasbooks

2 жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader it drove me crazy! because the part where Shallan is studying at the ancient library (I don’t remember the name of the place) was indeed the most interesting! But her interactions were so awkward... I couldn’t handle the attempt at flirtation with that one character (whose name I also don’t remember) 🙈

@charityreust6791

2 жыл бұрын

Completely agree

@devarthamorang3559

Жыл бұрын

The name of his editors are printed in most of his books. Lol

I'm reading Memory Sorrow and Thorn at the moment by Tad Williams- trying to get more of the older fantasy, and Williams is a fantastic writer.

@greensea66

Жыл бұрын

Tad Williams in incredible. M, S and T is one of my favs!

Dude, you said exactly the same things I thought about it. I kind of tried to like Sanderson's books but I just don't. I've been writing a book for about 20 years and I hope the result is nothing like it

Thankyou. I needed this.As someone who agrees with you on basically every point, and as someone who enjoys classic literature, Do you have any recommendations within the fantasy genre? I felt like reading sanderson was just annoying because of the POVs of the characters lacking emotional maturity basically. I literally felt like I was reading a drama about high school teens. There was no depth, or intellect required to grasp the concept, and the whole time I’m reading, I’m wondering why the hell certain characters are even struggling with decisions. The same feeling you get when you watch a B rated Horror movie that’s overly predictable with the characters making dumb decisions. And learning obvious lessons. IVE ALREADY GROWN UP, I don’t need to witness 5 different characters doing it. Basically, Sanderson novels are not targeted toward the passionate book reader, but for the person who may pick up a few books a year. Someone who hasn’t read or felt what real literature can be capable of.

Sanderson does write Superhero/Videogame books, which also include many elements of fantasy. The Stormlight Archives even has “leveling up.” I keep waiting for dialogue going: “Ding!” “Gratz!” On the other hand, I don’t think it ruins fantasy to be writing a different flavor of it, any more than I think Grimdark or Urban Fantasy or Steampunk are ruining things. Fads will come and go, and there will likely be good and bad stuff within them all. It’s a shame you limit yourself to spoiler free videos, because it limits you to conclusory statements. If you were willing to talk about the contents of the book, you might provide some interesting/entertaining support for your opinions. As it is, there are things on which I sort of agree with you, and others where I’m not quite sure what you mean. For example, I’m not quite sure in what way you think the characters are terrible.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

That’s fair! Much appreciated! If I ever pluck up the courage to make a proper review for this book, I will definitely take this feedback into account.

I wouldn't say the prose is conversational. Sure, the language used is pretty common and easy and accessible. That's a good thing, in my opinion. Simple language provides clarity. What I do have a problem with, though, isn't the language itself, but the narrator's voice. It's just... dull. I know this is Brandon's stylistic choice-a so-called pane-glass prose or something like that, where the narrator is invisible-but instead of diving right into the story without the narrator present, I just feel constantly bothered by it, instead. Reading his book is like listening to an emotionless robot telling me a story. It just doesn't sound human. It lacks life and energy and vitality. And I mean that literally. When reading a book that resonates with you, it's like you're connected so deeply to another human being, but his book doesn't do that for me. I love him as a person, love his contribution to the writing community, and deeply admire his work ethic. His works are just not for me, that's all.

The most accurate review video of Sanderson I've ever watched. Subscribed.

Thank you!!! You decide to speak with the language of TRUTH!

I thought something was wrong with me.😂 Good review.👍

I listened to the audiobook for about 11 hours and when I realized there were 34 hours left, I quit. The friend who recommended it said it gets really good...in the last 2 or 300 pages. If it gets good in the last 200 pages, it should be 2 or 300 pages long!

@sarahhirsch8919

2 жыл бұрын

When we get this whole world building infodump about how Shallon's society is set up where it's patriarchal, but only women read books, I'm like, okay this makes no sense, but whatever. AND THEN he puts in this scene where she goes into a bookstore and she wants to buy all these textbooks and the man behind the counter tries to get her to buy a romance novel instead, it was like... 1. Why is a person who doesn't read running a bookstore? 2. Why is a person who doesn't read trying to convince someone not to spend a shit ton of money on textbooks? The only people who would ever be interested in reading are women, right? So aren't they the market? 3. Why would a person who doesn't read think they could recommend a book to someone in the first place?? Also Kaladin's sorry is just...so boring. So boring. I can make it through long books. I made it through all four Otherland books in 3 weeks, and that's 120 or so hours of content. The length is not the issue. The story is the issue. (Otherland is like, fine. I wouldn't recommend it because of the time commitment, but the characters were interesting and I wanted to know what happened to them... Some interesting ideas as well. Fairly lackluster ending from left field which was not well set up.)

@AlanGonzalez-ev6ur

2 жыл бұрын

Uhh.. Hate to break it to you but its called epic fantasy for a reason. There cannot be "epic" without some sort of lead up to an epic climax. If youre not a fan of the genre just say that

@sarahhirsch8919

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlanGonzalez-ev6ur Uhh.. hate to break it to you, but the intro to a book shouldn't be three times longer than the "good part." If you're burning your reader out during the "intro" to the point that they don't even care about the characters, a bunch of people are going to quit reading before they get to the epic climax. I am not a fan of this book, and I did say that.

@grandadmiralmanatee

Жыл бұрын

Personally I enjoyed all the build up and character/world building. Just my opinion but I can definitely see where you are coming from - I think the “good part” would not have been nearly as satisfying without the (seemingly) needless buildup. It would have just been epic events that no one cares about

@ClimbingThing33

Ай бұрын

@@sarahhirsch8919Most of it isn’t an intro. Most of it is rising action. In a typical book, the rising action, which leads up to the climax, is at least double the rest of the book. Considering that the climax alone is like 100 pages, I think it’s fair. It’s your opinion whether you like the book or not, but it certainly has an excuse for being long.

I remember seeing Sanderson once say that he knew the beginning of the book was bad, and that it shouldn't have two prologues and that a lot of people will straight up skip them or not read his book because of it. But then he also said that he knew he could get away with it due to his fanbase, so did it anyway. I find that pretty telling for his writing style in general.

@oscarchavezavellan2738

Жыл бұрын

He never said it like that I believe. As far as I can recall he said that he knew that early on he was presenting the reader with things too alien for us that he knew we needed to be explained to us, he risked a lot of readers would drop the book because of this, but it was a purposeful decision. I would like to see the real quote because I don't believe he said it was because of the fandom, though I could be wrong.

@Lilitha11

Жыл бұрын

@@oscarchavezavellan2738 I tried looking for the exact quote, but he has so much content online it is difficult to fine one specific thing he said. He was talking specifically about the beginning of books and his prologues, and said that if he wasn't an established writer he wouldn't be able to get away with what he did. I believe it was during one of his lectures about writing. I don't think you are entirely wrong, since I am sure the intention was to put a ton of information in up front so they can get through it quickly, and have a good grasp on the world, then get to the good stuff. However, he straight up said that most people can't get away with it, but he could because he was an established writer and his fans would put up with a lot more of it.

@oscarchavezavellan2738

Жыл бұрын

​@@Lilitha11 I do remember when he talked about this too, and he probably said something about his fanbase, but it doesn't come across to me as "I know this is a bad writing decision, but my fans are going to swallow anything I give to them" more like "I can take risks because I'm a stablished author", which is something that's true, being successful gives more room to take risks. And fair I have heard some criticisms about the multiple beginnings and it is annoying to get presented with a character and then the next chapter is about someone completely different, but the chapters themselves are pretty good and fullfil their purpose as teaser (prelude), plot set up (prologue) and character set up (chapter 1). Maybe I'm being apologetic because I like his works and I do think he writes good stories, I guess it depends on taste and people.

@Lilitha11

Жыл бұрын

@@oscarchavezavellan2738 I tried looking for it again but can't find it. It was probably more along the lines of it being 'slow' and that his fans are more patient since they know him and will give him more leeway before dropping the book, rather than saying it is bad. I don't think he would purposely put out something he thought was bad. However, in the context of the discussion, 'slow' is something to be avoided, and he admitted it should be avoided by most writers. I am also fairly sure he specifically said he knew some people would not read it or the book because of it.

@oscarchavezavellan2738

Жыл бұрын

​​​@@Lilitha11 Yeah, as I already said I don't think what he said speaks badly about his writing there's plenty of authors that take risks after they have developed a solid fanbase, doing stuff that they wouldn't do if they were just starting, so yeah I just don't see your point on the first comment. I would get the criticism that the beginning is bad, but that has nothing to do with author saying he decided to start the book a certain way because he could take the possible pushback of some readers.

Ive tried reading that book twice and I cant finish it.

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

You’re better off like that! Don’t bother

@chandlerholloway3900

Жыл бұрын

Same man..

I also dislike Way of Kings. Which fantasy books do you like?

While I had a more positive experience with this book than you did, I agree with many of your points. I wasn't completely put off by the time I finished, but to me it was overlong for the payoffs, rife with some very clunky prose, lacking in subtlety that would have made the characters better realized-way too reliant on dimensionless expository dialogue. Some of Sanderson's ideas can be quite cool, and after finishing I was tempted to pick up the next book to see where things might go, but when I caught wind of people claiming the later books in the series had pacing issues COMPARED to The Way of Kings I lost much interest in continuing... The Way of Kings already felt like a circuitous slog in parts, and I would have thought that issue would be ameliorated in later books that didn't bear the weight of so much introductory worldbuilding; that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe I'll continue some day, because there were things I did like about the book, but until then I've got so many books to read that for me pack more substance into a shorter page count. Some other thoughts: Sanderson's chosen method of character development is to have them think in circles around the same dynamics again, and again, and again. Admittedly, this sometimes works for me, and I am genuinely heartened to see how positively people have related to Kaladin's struggle with depression. I've since read Assassin's Apprentice and am in the middle of Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb though and the difference in nuance in character work feels like night and day. Hobb's characters do brush up against similar dynamics often, but those dynamics maintain their intrigue for two main reasons: the subtlety and depth with which they're presented, requiring more inference from the reader that makes me feel a much deeper relationship with the characters, and the way Hobb expertly twists and turns character relationships, casting familiar dynamics in new, unexpected lights and maintaining conflict and tension-not the conflict of sword swinging and bloodletting (well, not always) but tension arising from the deep interpersonal lives of people, the tension that arises between people in the natural course of living, enhanced by the so far beautifully experiential magic of Hobb's world. I really feel as though I've lived with these characters, and gotten to know them just as I would someone in my own life; Hobb's characterization feels that true to reality, and I could gush about her writing for quite a while. Even action-oriented fantasy that's more analogous to Sanderson's work like Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series, which I've also begun reading in the months since I finished The Way of Kings, has wonderful character work by comparison in my opinion, as well as far more efficient and evocative prose, more thematic focus, and a greater sense of wonder to it, not to mention a far better sense of humor. So while I don't by any means hate Sanderson's work, and I do credit his Mistborn books with whetting my appetite for more fantasy a little over a year ago (I'd not been reading in the genre too much for a while), I'm a tad baffled at how highly lauded his work is after reading some more in the genre. It's not a bad introduction to more contemporary fantasy, at least it wasn't for me, and if people like it I disagree that it's indicative of bad taste by default, but even to a relative newcomer like myself-a lover of Tolkien who hadn't read much beyond that up until a year ago-it's evident Sanderson's work is far from the best fantasy has to offer. After reading Rothfuss and Jemisin and Le Guin and Abercrombie and Hobb and seeing just how much can be done in this genre, and with fewer words, I'm left feeling lukewarm at best by The Way of Kings.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

Such an enriching analysis! Thank you so much, very thoughtful comment

i don't agree...if i read realxed and i love it..that means it's good. If you read only way of kings and think what to critic...it's not good.

Man thank you for saying out loud whats been on my mind. I absolutely hated this book. Incredibly boring, lackluster characters, no complexity or nuance. No emotional connection to anything in the book. It baffles my mind how this book is so highly rated. Gosh what a waste of time

I dislike most modern epic fantasy because they focus on all the wrong things imo. Way too many fight scenes and action scenes, overexplaining boring magic systems, shallow characters, lame dialogue, bland world building, bad prose, don’t like them at all. I know grimdark isn’t for everyone, but it’s one of the only modern genres of fantasy that actually has great complex characters without focusing too much on any of the things I listed above. I also like classic epic fantasy from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as well.

@stephennootens916

5 ай бұрын

I have attempted more than once with Fantasy and found vary little I like. I found Lord of the rings boring and didn't make the hundred page mark with wheel of time. I did worse with Game of Thrones and The Blade itslf. The only fantasy I can claimed to like his Stephen King's The Stand uncut and The Dark Tower which sadly I have not had the time to finish. I also enjoyed Conan and am right now loving Swan Song.

@nightmarishcompositions4536

5 ай бұрын

@@stephennootens916 If you enjoy Stephen King and Robert Mccammon, I would also recommend Clive Barker, Joe Hill, Peter Straub and Gerald Brom. If you enjoy Conan, I would recommend checking some stuff out from the sword & sorcery genre. Manifest Delusions, Elric of Melnibone, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane, Chronicles of Amber and Vampire Hunter D are good places to start. If you don’t mind middle grade or ya fiction, maybe give stuff like The Demonata, Lockwood and Co and The Wardstone Chronicles a try. They combine weird horror and dark fantasy elements like King and Mccammon do, just for younger audiences.

You have such a genuinely, naturally funny way of telling things, I enjoyed this review greatly 😂

@justjuanreader

5 ай бұрын

😅😊❤️

I absolutely love Stormlight, but it’s so fun to watch someone shit talk it! Fun video

I wanted to love it and I really tried, but never got there.

I have also have mixed feelings although I did not hate this book (I like the world building). But yes, it is unnecessarly too long and a bit of a let down at the end (you start with assassins running on roofs which got me really hyped to complex stories of Shallan, Dalinar and Kaladin : even though I liked each character).

@rdos1492

Жыл бұрын

I also have the feeling that a lot of hard-core fans of Sanderson wouldn't dare criticising even a single inch of Stormlight archive (even though they didn't enjoy it that much). Don't get me wrong, I also love this author, but all of his books are not necessarly five star review caliber.

Thank you, YT algo, for bringing me this absolute gem of personal validation

I like Sanderson for the same reason i like King or any other english author, they're fun easy reads. If i want a complicated piece of media i got enough of those in my native language to make my brain run in circles.

Just leaving here a little list of writers that should have more recognition than Sanderson: Beautiful and efficient prose - Ursula Le guin Great worldbuilding - China Miéville Fascinating characters - Robin Hobb, Tad Williams Effective atmosphere - Michael Moorcock, Gene Wolfe Actual good battle fantasy - Charles R Saunders, Glen Cook, Fritz Leiber Mindbloweness - M. John Harrison

@vermadheeraj29

11 ай бұрын

Great recs, gotta save this comment. Thanks

@Odradekk-i6z

4 ай бұрын

China Miéville's prose is absolutely beautiful and has wild ideas. He's a must.

What are your thoughts on Malazan Book of the Fallen?

@TeamCarbos

2 жыл бұрын

Better than LotR. Greatest series ever made.

@wadoman699

2 жыл бұрын

Excellent series. But I have to disagree with team Carbos. Nothing is better than the Lord of the rings. Its charm, its depth, its characterizations, to me make it the finest fantasy series ever written. In my opinion, only Game of Thrones comes close.

@cesarkarim3352

Жыл бұрын

@@wadoman699 malazan is clearly better than lotr, nostalgia merchant is crazy.

@angeld3085

Жыл бұрын

@@cesarkarim3352 no, nothing is better than LOTR, not because it is perfect, but because it is the work that marked the entire genre

@cesarkarim3352

Жыл бұрын

@@angeld3085 I agree that lotr is the greatest but the best fantasy series is without a doubt malazan.

okay don't want to be hating, I love harry potter, and I enjoy it's worldbuilding purely on wonder factor, because the magic world of HP MAKES NO SENSE. There are so many plot holes in it (and honestly, as Im watching/reading HP, I dont care about those because the world is fun), but brandon sanderson makes worlds that make sense. there is explanations on why things are the way they are, and I prefer this over the wonder for the sake of wonder type of worldbuilding. One is not better than the other, and saying otherwise is a bit pretensious

@abuabdullah9878

6 ай бұрын

Why do plot holes make a story bad? Even if a story has 1000 plot holes, the main question is whether the soul of the book got across? And if it did, was it enjoyable? And if it was, did it challenge and interest you on its themes? Did it present interesting and novel questions that the author took a risk to reveal what they believe to be their best way to answer these questions? And if you don’t agree with their answers, did they at least present a good argument for it through the narrative? Did the story make you laugh? Cry? Sanderson’s check none of the above.

@gustavolamego9913

6 ай бұрын

@@abuabdullah9878 i was talking about the world building only. Saying that rowling has a better world building than sanderson is insane

@abuabdullah9878

5 ай бұрын

@@gustavolamego9913 She does have better world building IMO because the world feels magical, silly, and wonderous. Sanderson's worlds feel boring.

@gustavolamego9913

5 ай бұрын

@@abuabdullah9878 the world might feel more magic, but there are things that makes no sense. Time turners are a thing, but the only thing we have seen people use them are for takinb extra classes?? There is a potion that you can use to make you have extra luck, yet no one uses it, except once? I mean shouldnt they brew that potion before the battle of hogwarts? They had slughorn there to do it. Also, quiditch is super fun to watch, but its such a dumb sport. Horcruxes, are also dumb. Shouldnt just voldemort create one really small object like a pebble, and throw it in the middle of the mariana trench or something, so its harder to find? No, I will use objects of sentimentak value so its easier for the main characters to find them. Finally, the magic. What the hell is "magic" in this world, how do wands work? Why are there different types of wands but they all seem to do the same? I understand the point of the world building in harry potter is just to feel magical, but some things are just shity world building

@abuabdullah9878

5 ай бұрын

@@gustavolamego9913 I thought I addressed the plot hole thing already. See my first reply to you... The whimsical nature of Harry Potter is a small part of what makes it special. But I think "worldbuilding" isn't a category for what makes a good story--it's a mere side effect of a story that might need it.

I listened to the whole video so I'd have all of the context. I am a Sanderson fan and I do disagree with a majority of your points. My main issue with your rant/review is that you mention how juvenile, whitewashed, tacky, and bad it is, but you don't go into any details or examples of why you feel that way. I'd love to hear or read why you feel the way you do. It is nice to see different points of view for popular books because it shows others what we can learn and opens our eyes to more that is out there.

i was trying to find some good book after years waiting for “the doors of stone” from patrick rothfuss, i blind bought this one after so many ppl saying it was good and etc… damn this book is so bad hahaha i mean i just started reading first 100 pages and i already feel like it’s so poor writing, the “projection” magic and etc feels so bad and idk… after reading rothfuss this feels like lacking soooo much… the writing is so simple and weird… i swear bro, bad pick by me…

Muy interesante tu opinión sobre cómo Sanderson "está destruyendo la fantasía y el buen gusto" jajajajaja Lo interpreto como si el autor fuera un máquina de escribir novelas. Opinión que comparto.

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

Así es. Una máquina que obtiene resultados muy diversos… es una cuestión de gusto personal, pero para mí, termina siendo muy chafa y “no mágico”.

I'd argue there's hardly anything more "American" in 2020s than the tendency to express oneself in absolutes. I don't know where this inability to use temperedness stems from, but it's present in all things "pop", from American politics to American super heroes. There's some irony in resenting this element of American culture in published works yet immediately retreating to its comforts in our own self expression. The statement "Brandon Sanderson is DESTROYING Fantasy" reads like a title from your average American political commentator youtube video. --- I read the first three books of the Stormlight Archive. I was thoroughly enjoying it for as long as the descriptions of the world were common (the cultures, the flora, the weather, etc), which is a recurrent element in the first two books. It recedes in the third (probably because it has already been established), which is also when I became increasingly disinterested. I had to slog through that one. It's funny you mention American super heroes. I finally noticed it during the third book. The final battle in book three reads like a Marvel climax. It's the longest chapter in the book. It's supposed to be a big thing. I kept reading it and kept becoming increasingly anxious as the pages went by, knowing it had all built up to that point, yet my brain was compressing all that information into the words: "and then they fought". By the end all that was left was one memorable yet ungratifying moment. All the main characters just happened to appear on that one location for the final encounter against "Odium". All of them had essentially become leaders for each of the corresponding Radiant orders. These Radiant Orders often read like those "ISTJ", "ENTP" whatever online psychology tests which were popular years ago. The more these became a part of the story, the less interesting they proved to be. It was a disappointing realization. I'll keep reading Sanderson, though I haven't since that third book a couple of years ago. I like the world he has created enough to suffer some of the less compelling elements of the plot. It's encouraging that he is a prolific youngish author.

I read the Mistborn series and I liked the first book. I liked it mainly because the magic system was very different, and that was cool. The second book, I liked much less, and the last book, even less than that. After reading them, my thought was, "Yeah. It was a pretty good series." But I could never bring myself to read anything else by him. I just wasn't interested. Thinking about it, I realized that his books were very simple, and his writing is very weak IMO. I keep seeing people gush over his writing, and it makes me sad. I feel like there's a thing where a lot of people read a book and say they like it, and nobody wants to say, "Nah. It's not that great." I think the same thing when I see people talk about how good The Wheel of Time, or A Song or Fire and Ice. They're good books, but not great. They have lots of problems, but everybody loves them. I'm glad to see somebody speaks up against weak writing.

I will never read Sanderson - i know he is not my taste. Have you read any Guy Gavriel Kay? I feel like he'd be right up your alley in terms of magnificent prose. Not to mention aggression, complexity, sexuality. Tigana was great, to me. & a great place to start.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

I am reading my first Kay this year! It’s going to be “Sailing to Sarantium”. Any other recommendations? 🙏🏻

@willp2877

Жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader awesome, hope you enjoy! I am either going to read Sailing to Sarantium or Lions of Al-Rassan this summer, haven't yet decided! I've only read Tigana by GGK so far but i plan to go through all his classic/most highly rated novels. Tigana was masterfully written.

I’ll be honest your bloated unorganized review was way worse to sit through than any bad book I’ve ever read. If you’re going to bash something so hard make sure you have your thoughts in order. This is rambling. Just a critique sorry.

@user-km9zn7oy4i

Ай бұрын

go tell your Dad that you stood up for him

I needed this video. Ty

It sounds by your repetitive arguments that #1 you were biased to dislike the book just to make a review rant and #2 you did not even finish part one.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

I wish! I know it must be hard to believe but not everyone reveres this book. I did read all of it, aaaaaaaall of it!, sadly. And trust me, my time is incredibly valuable so I only read books I’m desperate to love. Even though his popular series are not good (this one and Mistborn), I do think there’s decent writing in his Alcatraz novels.

Completely disagree but your review was fun to watch. I died laughing when you made fun of Jasnah's name. I will say however that having different tastes and admiring simplicity doesn't mean lack of taste. I actually found a lot of the story profound and resonated pretty deeply with me. However, I do see it's not for everyone.

I agree with you, and I truly honestly can't see how people think it is the greatest book ever written. I just finished it, every review said the ending was amazing, and I really disagree lol.

I don’t see why you condemn the way of kings for not having stakes but praise Harry Potter, when there are less stakes in that

@justjuanreader

2 жыл бұрын

That is not my point. Stakes can vary. HP has, in my opinion, a distinct and quirky authorial voice, simple but effective rhythmic storytelling, whereas Sanderson (in this and Mistborn) has none of the above. In my opinion he has some good ideas and decent plots, but not much else, and that’s not enough.

I've read two of the Stormlight books, as well as I think three others of his. Not sure why, because I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I'm really not into the, as you put, scientific magic systems or world building. It causes there to be too much explaining interrupting the story. It feels like he's more into the magic systems and world building than he is actually writing a story. The prose is way too simplistic and spoon feeds the reader. I roll my eyes so much when I read Sanderson. I stopped reading the third Stormlight book maybe 200 pages into it, and thought I'd go back, but so far that hasn't happened and I don't think it will.

@justjuanreader

11 ай бұрын

It’s interesting, what you say. His style is very readable, I think that’s a huge positive point!! I do think if I had read his stuff maybe a few years earlier than I did I would have enjoyed it a lot more and probably would have continued with the Stormlight Archives.

I was waiting for excerpts to prove your points.

I’m wondering, did you go into it knowing it was sci-fi fantasy instead of classical fantasy? I probably would have felt similarly to you in a lot of ways if I went into it expecting typical magical fantasy instead!

@zhyarjasim

Жыл бұрын

Oh I did expect a classic fantasy story, if I knew it was scifi fantasy I'd have not read it cuz I don't like that genre unfortunately :/ Wish I knew that sooner.

@austinquick6285

Ай бұрын

Even if that were the case, That’s not the issue.

Excelente reseña Juan! Y tan necesaria, no porque sea "negativa" no, sino porque es saludable que siga existiendo el contraste de opiniones. Al respecto, me disculpo de antemano por escribir tan largo comentario (pero tu reseña no era corta precisamente, broma jejej); del autor he leído la primera era de los Nacidos de la Bruma y este y, aunque reconozco que disfruté de la lectura de todos esos libros, estoy de acuerdo en casi todos los puntos que planteas, y de hecho, creo que he llegado hasta aquí con Sanderson (al menos por ahora). Los libros, malos malísimos no me parecen, pero son ligeros y de lectura muy ágil y accesible (vamos, pensados principalmente para un público juvenil, aunque esto no es excusa, ahí está el Hobbit de Tolkien que es un libro infantil y me parece tremendamente superior a cualquiera de estos). Mi problema con Sanderson creo que pasa justamente porque ya dejé de ser ese público (principal) al cual van dirigidos sus libros, que quieren una historia entretenida sin quebraderos de cabeza y que no buscaban una prosa bellamente escrita; Sanderson es "funcional", te entrega todo "masticadito" digámoslo así, "esta es la historia y vamos al grano, que tengo que terminar 3 libros más esta tarde" jejej, hombre lo que tampoco me parece mal, cada uno verá cómo se gana el dinero, pero que no me salga después con su rollo del "Cosmere" y que todas sus historias estan entrelazadas (que a lo mejor sí), pero faltaría eso, que para ver la "película completa, tengo que leerme 35 libros del mismo señor, no, lo que ud. quiere es vender libros jejej, pero sí me molesta un poco cuando lo ponen al lado de grandes del género como Tolkien, Martin, Le Guin, Salvatore, Erikson, Hobb, etc., donde sí hay calidad literaria y sí puedes hallar una bella prosa en todos ellos (con diálogos memorables y reflexiones profundas incluso, y con textos que van desde las 80 a más de 1000 páginas, qué la extensión de un texto no es seguro de calidad de nada, pero hay autores que lo olvidan al parecer jejej). Otro aspecto que pienso que no acabó nunca de convencerme de Sanderson fueron sus sistemas de magia "súperelaborados" e "hiperexplicados", que sí, que entretenidos e interesantes de leer (en el momento, después se te olvidan jejej), pero la verdad es que no creo que la magia en una historia de fantasía deba estar ultra justificada al punto de casi parecer "ciencia", no, es un mundo de fantasía, la magia es magia precisamente por algo, es mística, existe sólo en ese mundo ficticio "por algo", no sabes muy bien por qué o cómo funciona y eso está bien, pero bueno, por lo visto hay muchos que buscaban o esperaban desde hace un tiempo todo lo contrario, y creo que es también por eso que en general alaban tanto a Sanderson, porque en cierto sentido "renueva" un poco el género. En fin, que la gente siga leyendo lo que le apetezca, que sigamos debatiendo y contrastando opiniones y sigamos todos disfrutando de la lectura que es un acto tan bello. Saludos Juan desde Latam! Y gracias por tus reseñas, son de calidad y, aunque no siempre puedo verlas, las disfruto mucho cuando lo hago :)

I read 4 Sanderson books....most overrated author everrrrr (my bro and gf love the author...i can't stand it)

I tried so hard to get into this book. Just couldn't do it. The chapters are so short and disjointed it feels like whip lash bouncing back and forth. I don't want any main characters to die, but once I realized none of them are ever going to. The book just lost all suspense and drama. A bland forgettable story.

This was so harsh. But honest, at least.

¡Hola! Yo también soy Mexicana jajaja. Lei este libro el año pasado cuando tenia 17 años (ahora tengo 18 jaja) y no voy a negar que lo disfrute muchísimo. Me pareció muy impresionante y conecte mucho con los personajes. Ahora después de ver tu video, puedo ver muchas de los defectos que tiene el libro y, pues, el autor. Estoy intentando leer mas variedad de libros y desarrollar mis gustos literarios. Muchas gracias por tu video, me ayudo mucho a poner este libro en perspectiva y me inspiro a intentar leer cosas diferentes. ¡Gracias de nuevo! Saludos

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

Hola Romina! Gracias por no tomarte este video tan personal como muchos lectores jaja. Sé que puedo ser muy amargado y duro con mis comentarios (me gusta ser teatral al quejarme, no lo negaré); este libro/autor tiene sus virtudes, pero también puntos ciegos…

@romina954

Жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader ¡la verdad tus comentarios me dieron mucha risa ! Disfrute muchisimo tu video y ya quedo subscrita al canal jajaja

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

@@romina954 Jajajajaja bueno, la risa es algo que se valora mucho en este canal!

I love this review I disagree with almost everything you say and I love this book but this one of the funniest reviews I’ve ever watched thank you for making this and having your own opinion I respect it

AMEN!

My guy, I agree with absolutely everything. The spoonfeeding so idiots can read and feel smart and proud of themselves. And if you say that you think its stupid and juvenile, you're "pretentious".

Well, if you are looking for a satisfying challenge and beautiful prose read the Malazan Empire from Steven Erikson.

Overall I liked the book enough to continue the series, but finally i have find a couple of reviews, including yours, that are actually negative. I feel like its somewhat overrated. P.S. yeah people aren't critical enough of the book

Looks to me that you just don’t like hard magic systems. Your opinion is as valid as anyone else’s but i think you go way to far on some things, like saying that it is ‘ruining fantasy’ or classifying everyone that likes sanderson’s style as having ‘bad taste’, implying they ‘don’t read’ anything else and that they’re the ‘seccluded geeks that like superheroes’… Idk, but to me it seems a spiteful review tbh

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

No, I do like hard magic systems, that was not the issue here. My issue was the author spent all his time and energy building that system and everything ended up feeling devoid of magic, not interesting. Never a sense of wonder with this one… It’s just not good enough in my opinion.

@oriolbentzsimal

Жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader again, your opinion is valid, though i do not share it, but the other issues still stand It’s even funny that the books themselves have comments from the likes Robin Hobb, Patrick Rothfuss, whom you do recommend, praising the series

@StevenRossRichestManAlive

Жыл бұрын

@@justjuanreader true, you are our messiah sanderson is trash

@scionsilverbeat8149

9 ай бұрын

@@justjuanreader And yet these systems ARE ones many find interesting. A lot of people don't like whimsical magic. To some it's a wonder. But to others it's random abandon that gives rise to convenience. And in WOK, the system is no less wondrous nor less interesting for being hard. It is still full of surprises discovering the clever ways it can be used as time goes on. And because it's hard, it's believable despite readers not having thought of those uses when they first learned of those systems ages ago.

Totally agree with the sentiment that Sanderson’s style has led to more juvenile fantasy, particularly the nerdy “science-like” magic systems. I see it a lot with the LitRPG genre, which conceptually sounds like something that should be interesting. I mean… video games that are books! Sign me up. But all those books are sooooo crunchy with the exact numbers of the gaming/magic systems in the same way Brandon’s systems are. And there is a SUBSTANTIAL audience of readers looking for that. That saddens me because that’s the trend of writing right now and it’s not a type of writing style I’m much a fan of.

@justjuanreader

Жыл бұрын

Sad indeed!

@pokedonut5945

Жыл бұрын

Damn didn't expect to see you here XD.

It sounds like Sanderson might be approaching fantasy worldbuilding more like hard sci-fi…

The US has a strong tradition of what I call “American style prose,” which can be characterized as simple, straightforward, direct, and unconcerned with pomp & circumstance. It’s a style meant to speak to the common man, explicit in its rejection of the Old World European prose characterized as elegant, refined, sophisticated, and pretentious. It is not the language of kings and queens, it’s the language of men and women who rose up to reject kings and queens - and Brandon Sanderson is a master of this style. This style is not just limited to our writing either, it permeates our music, film, TV, food, and nearly every aspect of American culture. Ironically, the style of prose you seem to prize would be what most American readers consider tacky and in poor taste.

superheroes out here catching strays

I love how you express yourself, it was a relief to hear this opinion🙏

Well said!

I find Sanderson doesn't write magic. He writes codified systems that people call magic for some reason.

I thought it was just me because people put Sanderson on a godlike pedestal. I read about 100 pages from the named book, and I could not for the life of me continue reading for the same reasons you mention here. It's fantasy being dumbed down, and I think he is doing it on purpose because he is knowledgeable in the science of writing. I get the impression that you are a reader but not a writer, although you are very good with words. The way you express your opinions in this video really gets across. I wonder if you've ever thought of being a writer yourself? I'm a fantasy writer (also a writer of non-fiction), but I can't express myself verbally as well as you do. That could be the answer: You can express yourself verbally, and I can express myself in writing. I'm still curious about why you are not writing (or perhaps you are).

To me it feels like Sci-fi being wrapped in a curtain of pseudo-fantasy. I can't complain, because I use the same style of writing by basing my magic around false science, or alternative physics. Then again, it's also a Pirate Novel with a Seal as the protagonist.

I loved Way of Kings, but I’m happy to consider your criticism. It’s not perfect and I can definitely understand your viewpoints. Also, thanks for the recommendation of Robin Hobb. I enjoy hearing dissenting opinions, I appreciate when people choose not to be sycophants.

I love the book, but it could've been a 500-600-page book. My favorite book of his is Elantris. Mistborn, I did not like at all.

Thank you for an honest opinion, It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my sustain for Sanderson’s writing. I think too many Sanderson fans only read basic fantasy, so their expectation for high level writing is low; I read the first 100 pages and I had to stop. I feel like Sanderson doesn’t have enough education and experience in life to write with nuance on the topics he does. His popularity is creating the standard of what fantasy is supposed to be, and that is a sad thing. Have you read Ke Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty or N. K. Jemisin’s work? They are generally amazing!

@Stradequit

9 ай бұрын

His books are focused on characters and their arcs more than anything. 100 pages in, you've basically not even started a character arc. I can understand not liking Brandon's exposition and writing style in comparison to masters of the fantasy genre, but his Storytelling is undeniable imo.

@devinkipp4344

9 ай бұрын

@@Stradequit EHHH Name of the wind didn't take 100 books to get started and that is a character-centric book, it hardly has a plot. At 100 pages you should have a good grasp of who the characters are and why they are interesting enough to write about.

Honestly I basically agree with this review. I think I'm too open minded. Because I can find redeeming qualities in too many things. I have tendency to think when I dislike something or have a distaste for it then it's my fault for not understanding it and not being able to see what it does offer. That being said, the first time I read Way of Kings I found it so boring I had to quit it. I started it again later and finished it and ended up liking it and I read the second and third books. But yeah, the feeling I got from the books was that they were schlocky and pulpy. There are lots of really boring uninteresting stuff with some cool action sequences and "Hekc yeah epic moments." that are honestly fun and cool, but they aren't meaningful or moving. Like you, I would not consider them objectively not "good" books. And the prose is terrible. But I still found things to enjoy. I did get invested in some of the characters' struggles and their overcoming these demons, but it certainly was not groundbreaking. Would agree that the worldbuilding just *feels* kind of hollow and bland despite being fleshed out. I think it's a result of his abysmal prose.

I agree with you on some points, and disagree on others! Though The Way of Kings was far from my fave book of all time (was kinda 'meh' to me and I've DNF'd Mistborn like three freaking times), I *don't* think there's anything wrong with more accessible fantasy stories being published. This just wasn't one that I enjoyed. I think people that don't necessarily want to do Malazan level mindwork to consume a fantasy story should have options! But as you said, I'm kind of confused as to why Sanderson is hailed so fervently as he is. I also didn't feel like I grasped the 'epic' part of this book either. You also hit the nail on the head with the length of the story. I feel like fantasy as a whole has been inundated with 1k page books that only have 500 pages worth of story. Nothing wrong with big books, as you said (ASOIAF is my all time fave series!), but holy moly the repetitious explanations and replaying the same scene over and over again with the same freaking character drove me crazy. All in all, I haven't liked anything by Sanderson yet either, but I also don't think he's necessarily ruining fantasy. I hope the accessibility of his work actually spawns more fantasy books written with the same ease of consumption, just not by him or anyone with a similar technique of storytelling lol.

"Of course this is just my opinion, I don't presume to believe that I have the final say on what is good or bad writing. I can totally understand why someone would like this book" "Please, for the love of God, don't read this book. Read something else." I want to be clear: the review doesn't annoy me; we all have our own preferences, as you point out, but if you are going to say that your opinion isn't necessarily the correct one for everyone then please don't act like it is.

@tibet499

2 ай бұрын

Shut up. He said at the beginning to leave if you didn't like what he was going to say. But you stayed and are surprised you got offended. Peak idiocy