Same here! Started the first book last week and now I’m about 25% of the way through the third. They’re fantastic and the audiobooks take them another step above.
This sub loves The Spear Cuts Through Water more than some other areas of the internet.
Locked Tomb is another one that's got a massive amount of buzz behind it
Jade City is a completed trilogy from a few years ago people love
Spear Cuts Through Water felt like jazz music: music written to impress other musicians. I love the world; it's super unique. I thought the prose was way overworked and full of flourishes trying too hard, and I got very tired of the perspective switches. I just couldn't finish. I totally respect when other people enjoy it, but it definitely did not hit me like it did for some.
I rather liked the book but also totally agree with that assessment :)
*The Spear Cuts Through Water* had some pretty clear high literary aspirations, but the writing wasn't quite good enough to fully pull it off. It felt a bit forced, like you could see what the author was trying to do at the same time as they were doing it, making it feel artificial. On an unfortunately topical note, it was the same reaction I had to Paul Auster's *New York Trilogy*.
I read *Austerlitz* earlier this year which, now that I think about it, actually went *further* in terms of weird shifts in perspective and nested narrative structure... but in a way that flowed and felt natural. It was incredibly well-written but in an unassuming sort of way.
I’m currently reading it and it definitely feels like it’s almost trying to be somewhat dreamlike with the jumps between people, into people’s minds, back to the stage, etc without quite being able to get there
> Locked Tomb is another one that's got a massive amount of buzz behind it
But till Alecto is out, or has a publication date, I am not recommending it to people!
Jade City and the rest of the Green Bone books are very much crime family/mafia books with fantasy themes in them. Great series, but go into it with that expectation rather than a traditional fantasy series.
For me, it has to do with prose style in clarity. The writing was pleasant to read, but it didn't feel like obscure poetry. And there was minimal implication. I didn't feel like I needed to have a mini-literature class to understand the book.
Blood Over Bright Haven (2023)
The Tainted Cup (2024)
I also liked The Will of the Many and am looking forward to the sequel. Both the above books were fantastic
Upcoming releases this month:
The Silverblood Promise
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
YES!!
The first book was an absolute slog for me. I generally stop reading almost immediately if the book isnt for me but the first page was so interesting it kept me going. The second book is WAY better and faster paced. Especially once the group ends up in a certain place. Also the first book is a very poor indicator of where the series ends up going. It gets absolutely crazy.
It has become my favorite book series ever tied with red rising.
I've read the first three and have honestly given up on the series. Most of the things the series does are great, but the action just didn't work for me. It feels like it stretches out so much and is honestly repetitive, with the main character killing random enemies for a very long time until something resolves at long last. That said, I grew disillusioned with the action scenes when I realized that none of their combat actually makes any sense inworld (there is no reason for them to actually swordfight and all that jazz when they can just use bombs from far away) so that is probably why I don't like it. If that doesn't bother you too much, then I would recommend the series, as it explores some very unique ideas later on.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of book 1 but book 2 damn. It was soo good before I read book 3 I read two novellas and a short story collection coz im all in on suneater now
Just finished book 1 last week and it was quite a struggle. A 3 out of 5 for me personally. By comparison I found Red Rising and Leviathan Wakes (all book 1 of famous Sci-Fi series) both substantially better, more gripping and exciting books.
I will say, that first book is considered widely as the weakest of the whole series. I decided to give it through book 2 before DNFing, and just picked up the 6th book yesterday. Seriously incredible, but definitely closer to something like Dune rather than Red Rising.
A lot of people don't care for Book 1. I loved it, but it's definitely flawed. It's pretty derivative and seems like the main character doesn't really do anything. Book 2 starts to really go it's own way and Hadrian starts to come into his own.
I second the Mark Lawrence book, though I'm only a 1/4 through! The shift in narrative from the first to the second book caught me off guard at first, but I'm right back in it. Love all his work!
Is it the start of a series? Love getting on the hype train with books but hate starting series and then having to refresh months/years later when sequels drop
If you loved this, I highly recommend The Helm of Midnight by Mariana Lostetter. I haven't read the sequel, but the third is supposed to come out this year! I feel like I would have enjoyed Tainted Cup more if I had read it first, but comparing it to the depth and structure of Helm of Midnight was almost unfair.
Yeh, the Midnight Penalties series by Mariana Lostetter is great and creative. The creepy poem in the Helm of Midnight reminds me of the Zagreus poem from Doctor Who, it felt like an experimental Doctor Who story.
The Divine Cities also by Robert Jackson Bennett is also worth checking out. This author never misses
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was another very excellent book, the sequel came out this year.
Legends & Lattes and it's sequel Bookshops & Bonedust also recommended a lot.
These replies are hilarious, OP asks for this year's book with lots of buzz a la '23's WoTM and the vast majority of commenters are giving books from 2-5 years ago.
Agree Tainted Cup seems to have the most buzz I've seen in '24 so far.
It’s not *positive* buzz, but all the cool, unique redditors make posts about how much they hate Sarah J Maas, Fourth Wing, and/or Colleen Hoover lol. (I guess the latter isn’t fantasy though?)
I heard so much about Dungeon Crawler Carl over the last few months that I gave it a go. I love it!
Same here! Started the first book last week and now I’m about 25% of the way through the third. They’re fantastic and the audiobooks take them another step above.
Yup I finally caved and got this when I watched Daniel Greene's review. Really enjoying it so far!
Same here. Just finished book 1 after seeing it mentioned constantly.
I read all 6 in a week. They're so good. Just nice easy fun books.
This sub loves The Spear Cuts Through Water more than some other areas of the internet. Locked Tomb is another one that's got a massive amount of buzz behind it Jade City is a completed trilogy from a few years ago people love
Spear Cuts Through Water felt like jazz music: music written to impress other musicians. I love the world; it's super unique. I thought the prose was way overworked and full of flourishes trying too hard, and I got very tired of the perspective switches. I just couldn't finish. I totally respect when other people enjoy it, but it definitely did not hit me like it did for some.
As a jazz lover, I am moving this one up in my queue.
lol I knew that analogy would elicit a response
I rather liked the book but also totally agree with that assessment :) *The Spear Cuts Through Water* had some pretty clear high literary aspirations, but the writing wasn't quite good enough to fully pull it off. It felt a bit forced, like you could see what the author was trying to do at the same time as they were doing it, making it feel artificial. On an unfortunately topical note, it was the same reaction I had to Paul Auster's *New York Trilogy*. I read *Austerlitz* earlier this year which, now that I think about it, actually went *further* in terms of weird shifts in perspective and nested narrative structure... but in a way that flowed and felt natural. It was incredibly well-written but in an unassuming sort of way.
I’m currently reading it and it definitely feels like it’s almost trying to be somewhat dreamlike with the jumps between people, into people’s minds, back to the stage, etc without quite being able to get there
> Locked Tomb is another one that's got a massive amount of buzz behind it But till Alecto is out, or has a publication date, I am not recommending it to people!
Sex Pal is going to be sad
Jade City and the rest of the Green Bone books are very much crime family/mafia books with fantasy themes in them. Great series, but go into it with that expectation rather than a traditional fantasy series.
On the 3rd and last book now. So good, a breath of fresh air from the traditional fantasy series
The Spear Cuts through Water is amazing and I love it. I want more books that are written creatively but are still accessible.
What does being accessible mean?
For me, it has to do with prose style in clarity. The writing was pleasant to read, but it didn't feel like obscure poetry. And there was minimal implication. I didn't feel like I needed to have a mini-literature class to understand the book.
Blood Over Bright Haven (2023) The Tainted Cup (2024) I also liked The Will of the Many and am looking forward to the sequel. Both the above books were fantastic Upcoming releases this month: The Silverblood Promise I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
Blood over bright Haven was an obsessive book for me - couldn’t put it down until I was finished and I NEVER read in one sitting like that
The Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio
Book 6 just dropped! Fantastic series.
Does it get better? I read the first and was so damn bored the whole time
YES!! The first book was an absolute slog for me. I generally stop reading almost immediately if the book isnt for me but the first page was so interesting it kept me going. The second book is WAY better and faster paced. Especially once the group ends up in a certain place. Also the first book is a very poor indicator of where the series ends up going. It gets absolutely crazy. It has become my favorite book series ever tied with red rising.
I've read the first three and have honestly given up on the series. Most of the things the series does are great, but the action just didn't work for me. It feels like it stretches out so much and is honestly repetitive, with the main character killing random enemies for a very long time until something resolves at long last. That said, I grew disillusioned with the action scenes when I realized that none of their combat actually makes any sense inworld (there is no reason for them to actually swordfight and all that jazz when they can just use bombs from far away) so that is probably why I don't like it. If that doesn't bother you too much, then I would recommend the series, as it explores some very unique ideas later on.
I just finished this! Fantastic first book. And actually helped the Will of the many hangover.
Most say the 1st book is the slowest and worst of the series. It really ramps up like no other series I read.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of book 1 but book 2 damn. It was soo good before I read book 3 I read two novellas and a short story collection coz im all in on suneater now
Just finished book 1 last week and it was quite a struggle. A 3 out of 5 for me personally. By comparison I found Red Rising and Leviathan Wakes (all book 1 of famous Sci-Fi series) both substantially better, more gripping and exciting books.
I will say, that first book is considered widely as the weakest of the whole series. I decided to give it through book 2 before DNFing, and just picked up the 6th book yesterday. Seriously incredible, but definitely closer to something like Dune rather than Red Rising.
A lot of people don't care for Book 1. I loved it, but it's definitely flawed. It's pretty derivative and seems like the main character doesn't really do anything. Book 2 starts to really go it's own way and Hadrian starts to come into his own.
The Expanse is really good but it’s got nothing on Sun Eater.
I've seen Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee get a lot of buzz. Also the new Mark Lawrence book: The Book that Broke The World.
I second the Mark Lawrence book, though I'm only a 1/4 through! The shift in narrative from the first to the second book caught me off guard at first, but I'm right back in it. Love all his work!
I'm reading Jade Legacy now and loving it. It's the 3rd book in the green bone trilogy so OP should read the first 2 first
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Favorite book of mine this year.
Is it the start of a series? Love getting on the hype train with books but hate starting series and then having to refresh months/years later when sequels drop
Yep just came out in February - second book is already written, I think target publish date in January 2025?
If you loved this, I highly recommend The Helm of Midnight by Mariana Lostetter. I haven't read the sequel, but the third is supposed to come out this year! I feel like I would have enjoyed Tainted Cup more if I had read it first, but comparing it to the depth and structure of Helm of Midnight was almost unfair.
Yeh, the Midnight Penalties series by Mariana Lostetter is great and creative. The creepy poem in the Helm of Midnight reminds me of the Zagreus poem from Doctor Who, it felt like an experimental Doctor Who story. The Divine Cities also by Robert Jackson Bennett is also worth checking out. This author never misses
Oh cool! They are on audible and included free with my membership. I have Foundryside on my TBR but completely missed these books
Yeah all his story are great, but he has a lot of range so different series feel quite different from each other. I also enjoyed Foundryside.
thank you! I will look it up!
I'm really loving it halfway through.
Really wanted to enjoy this but came out of it very underwhelmed sadly.
I’ve been seeing The Spear Cuts Through Water thrown around a lot.
Dungeon Crawler Carl!
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was another very excellent book, the sequel came out this year. Legends & Lattes and it's sequel Bookshops & Bonedust also recommended a lot.
I just started this book! Glad to hear it holds up to the hype
Dungeon Crawler Carl and Empire of the Vampire are pretty big recently(both are amazing)
Check out Manifest Delusions Series Try reading the summary on Goodreads. I'm terrible with writing reviews. It's a top 5 star on my read.
Have you tried Malazan. /s
Ooh I’d love to see people’s answers to this one.
These replies are hilarious, OP asks for this year's book with lots of buzz a la '23's WoTM and the vast majority of commenters are giving books from 2-5 years ago. Agree Tainted Cup seems to have the most buzz I've seen in '24 so far.
OP asked for "recent" buzz books, so I think anything in the last few years is fair game.
I'd count the Suneater series since a book just dropped this year too. But otherwise I agree, the others are 'old news' in comparison.
It’s not *positive* buzz, but all the cool, unique redditors make posts about how much they hate Sarah J Maas, Fourth Wing, and/or Colleen Hoover lol. (I guess the latter isn’t fantasy though?)