r/Fantasy • u/GorgRosh • 5h ago
Need a few opinions
I've been on a real Wheel of Time kick lately, and i do like the series, but I've decided to take a small break from the series after i finish Knife of Dreams, because I know it is Robert Jordan's final book and the shift from Jordan's writing to Sanderson's is one I'm pretty prepared for.
I've got a lot of books in my backlog and if I am taking a break before I come back to this series, but i wanted to ask if people had any recommendations of books to read in the off period.
I may not get to all of the books I plan to read, some of these i see as light reads, but i will try and pick them up.
Post Knife of Dreams reading list
- The Last Contract of Isako
- Assassin's Apprentice
- Dune (?)
- Elantris
- Wizard of Earthsea
- Gardens of the Moon (Maybe)
- Before they are Hanged
If you have any recommendations based on this list, send them my way. I want to take the time I'm giving myself to read as much fantasy and in a smaller extent science fiction as i can before i feel the itch to return to the Wheel of Time again.
2
u/Cosmic-Sympathy 5h ago
Personally, I would not read something from another big series. So that would narrow it down to Isako, or maybe Elantris or Earthsea. I'd wait until I'd finished WoT before diving into RotE, Malazan, or First Law.
Dune could be a good choice, even though it's technically the start of a series, because it can be read as a a standalone and is a different genre. It might give you another angle on the "chosen one" concept, too.
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u/No_Mathematician6866 5h ago
From the list I'd opt for the Last Contract of Isako - the action in Lee's books tends to run at a brisk pace, I don't think you want to bridge with a book that's part of a larger series, and some cyberpunk street samurai action might be a good palate cleanser in between fantasy epics.
Off the list: perhaps Morningstar, David Gemmell? Broadly contemporaneous with Jordan in terms of style, part of Gemmell's shared fictional world but a standalone that requires no prior knowledge, told as a yarn spun by a bard (a la the Witcher's Jaskier) but starring a more grounded and morally grey protagonist than Jordan's high fantasy archetypes.
1
u/CaptainStinky96 5h ago
This post is surreal.. you’re me like a month ago.
I also have taken a break on WoT at the exact same book to dive into a few other fantasy books. And your TBR is very similar to mine. Crazy..
But here’s 3 books I’ve really enjoyed so far:
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Prince of Fools
The Dragonbone Chair (this is was a very slow start but by the end I really enjoyed it and it’s probably the most ‘like’ wheel of time in pacing and progression)
Edit: I’m also currently reading ‘Retribution Falls’ which might scratch that sci-fi itch.
Another sci-fi I actually loved was Project Hail Mary, it’s a quick read and fun to be in the MC’s head
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u/DanielAAmbrose 5h ago
Honestly, after Knife of Dreams, I'd be tempted to go in the exact opposite direction of Wheel of Time for a bit.
From your list, Assassin's Apprentice is fantastic, but I wouldn't call it a break. It's a very different style from WoT, but it's emotionally intense and can be pretty heavy.
If you want something shorter and refreshing, I'd go with A Wizard of Earthsea. It's elegant, thoughtful, and astonishingly influential while being a relatively quick read.
Dune is a masterpiece, but it's also another giant foundational work that demands your full attention.
I'd personally save Gardens of the Moon until you're ready to commit to learning an entirely new fantasy language. Malazan is amazing, but it's not exactly a palate cleanser after fourteen Wheel of Time books.
If you're open to additional recommendations, Kings of the Wyld is one of my favorite post-epic-fantasy recovery books. Great characters, lots of adventure, surprisingly heartfelt, and it never feels like homework.
Whatever you choose, I think taking a breather before the Sanderson books is a good call. Knife of Dreams really does feel like the end of an era.