Still reading Starsight by Brandon Sanderson, second book of Skyward (Cytoverse) series. About half done. It’s interesting to get more details about the world.

What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening?

  • Exulion@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Currently listening to the Cradle series on a friend’s recommendation. Enjoying the progression fantasy, but the way problems have been resolved has been pretty irritating multiple times.

    • corvi@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      This is probably my favorite fantasy book series, so I’m super curious what resolutions you’ve found annoying.

      I’ll say I find the first book a bit of a slog, but that’s mostly because I can’t stand the secondhand embarrassment of Lindon’s behavior.

      Once Aethan shows up, it’s a straight shot to the top for me.

      • Exulion@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I just dislike that Lindon makes so many rash decisions that are just deus ex machinad. It is one of my peeves of conflict resolution in stories especially when it is as heavy handed as it is here. I am generally enjoying the world building and most of the progression and character interactions though.

        They also try and portray Linden as a peculiarity but he hasn’t really done anything warranting that yet other than us being told such.

        Currently on blackflame so it clearly hasn’t deterred me yet.

        • corvi@lemm.ee
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          3 months ago

          Interesting. I generally cannot stand deus ex machina, so I’m surprised to not really be able to think of heavy examples of it for Lindon. He certainly gets out of tricky situations, but maybe to me it felt like they were either foreshadowed or somebody like Aethan gets him out of it?

          I’m planning another reread soon; I’ll have to pay special attention to see why it didn’t register for me in this particular story.

          • Exulion@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I definitely feel as I have progressed through that it has either gotten better or doesnt bother me as much as he actually has a measure of power now. xD

            They still make some odd decisions sometimes.

          • dresden@discuss.onlineOPM
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            3 months ago

            I think deus ex machina is part of the genre. Very few books, if any, in progression fantasy are able to avoid it.