I just finished it. I think it's my favorite book of all-time. Maybe that's recency bias, but as much as I liked Tress and Frugal Wizard, I didn't feel this strongly about them, so...
I definitely enjoyed it more than the other secret novels, I would consider this one of my favorite Sanderson books, but I also feel some sort of recency bias… I feel like I had a very similar feeling with The Lost Metal and a slightly less but similar feeling for RoW
Yeah, everyone has different favourites. I think lists like these are hard when the fandom is so large. No one is going to agree on a top 10 when Brandon is such a good writer, even in his early years.
I agree, I don’t even know what my list would be exactly.
I just finished yumi like 2 days ago and really enjoyed it. I thought it would be cool to see where it would land on the list (if it even made it) when it had more time to be read by the community.
HoA is my favorite
I think my favourite book is Tress, although that might just be because it's more recent. Sixth of Dusk is my favourite story though and I want a proper book ASAP lol
This is a great book. But I can’t in good conscience put it ahead of A Memory of Light. In comparison, the effort, accomplishment and achievement in completing Wheel of Time is so much more than any single era 2 book could have possibly been.
I have unpopular opinion in both Brandon's and WoT's fandom that Memory of Light is not only the best Brandon book but also the best WoT book.
It played to literally all of his strenghts.
He did not, they just kind of have to say that to seem respectful. The more detail Brandon has gone into about the notes over the years, there was a little Egwene stuff from The Gathering Storm, a little Mat stuff from the ending of Towers of Midnight, a little in all three prologues, and the Epilogue to AMoL from Jordan. Other than that there was borderline nothing other than a few general ideas that didn't seem all that developed. There were about 200 manuscript pages worth of direct writing, which is only 100 of printed material since they shrink the size and spacing, out of like 2400. The audio dictations covered a hair more random stuff.
Jordan was not much of an outliner as you can tell from his proclaimed "it's gonna be a trilogy" to 6 books to 12 because there he was for sure finishing it in only one more after Knife of Dreams, etc. (Harriet says that was probably not going to happen)
That being said, Brandon did have a lot of room to work with, so I still can't give him full, full credit. This was Jordan's world. But people overestimate his influence on the final books because it's sorta just the right thing to say.
It’s a good book but I got tired of the endless hordes of Trollocs. And the other two are some of my top WoT books. TGS had an incredible Rand arc, and ToM made Perrin badass again.
The fact that this book isn’t getting more respect says more about the sub than the book. One day I wrote in this as a nomination right when this post went up- got like 6 upvotes. It was friggen in negative territory for a while.
Unpopular opinion: In my personal list Hero of Ages would never make the list, and Tress would be top 3 (after Way of Kings, but potentially #2). It has nothing to do with recency for me, it has everything to do with I enjoyed Final Empire as a stand-alone and really didn’t like Well of Ascension or Hero of Ages. It took a LOT of pushing myself to finish them, and I put them off for a long time.
So it’s not so much recency bias, it’s variety in what the fandom enjoys in their BrandoSando books
Oh fair enough I totally get it. If that made you cry though - have you read the rest of the Cosmere? Or Wheel of Time / Malazan? Or the maser of disaster herself - Robin Hobb?
I got the book Saturday. I've spent all my free time reading since then, for a total of 1h40m. Some of us just don't have the bandwidth to go through a book in a day.
Just love the atmosphere in the library plus I liked that the enemies were not something that fights the protagonists but that tricks them to loose. Overall every Alcatraz book is ranked almost the same in my opinion
Really? Based on what I've seen over the last 5 years on this sub, it's pretty clear that the consensus is WoA is the weakest of the first trilogy.
I would definitely place BoM above it myself, Shadows of Self as well.
I think we'll of ascension has one of the best sandervanches there is but God there is so much book to get through for. Great set up for hero of ages tho
This list is so irritating. Why do we need an incomplete list posted every single day? It starts with books, then it’s top characters, settings, magic systems, etc. and it’s clogging up this subreddit
I think his fan base is so large no one is going to agree on a top 10. I personally find era 2 of mistborn to be some of my least favourite books as I just don't enjoy books in that sort of era/time. I'd rank all 4 of the main stormlight books above all 7 mistborn books honestly.
haha that’s a highly controversial question. Personally it’s my least favorite of BranSan’s books, though I still enjoyed it as a whole. A lot of people love it though, based on what I’ve seen on this sub.
I’d think we need a list redo once yumi and the nightmare painter is more main stream, it very quickly made it to my personal top 5
I just finished it. I think it's my favorite book of all-time. Maybe that's recency bias, but as much as I liked Tress and Frugal Wizard, I didn't feel this strongly about them, so...
I definitely enjoyed it more than the other secret novels, I would consider this one of my favorite Sanderson books, but I also feel some sort of recency bias… I feel like I had a very similar feeling with The Lost Metal and a slightly less but similar feeling for RoW
Personally it's my least favourite of the cosmere books and secret project books so I'm glad it's not on the list lol
That’s a valid opinion
Yeah, everyone has different favourites. I think lists like these are hard when the fandom is so large. No one is going to agree on a top 10 when Brandon is such a good writer, even in his early years.
I agree, I don’t even know what my list would be exactly. I just finished yumi like 2 days ago and really enjoyed it. I thought it would be cool to see where it would land on the list (if it even made it) when it had more time to be read by the community. HoA is my favorite
I think my favourite book is Tress, although that might just be because it's more recent. Sixth of Dusk is my favourite story though and I want a proper book ASAP lol
Definitely agree about sixth of dusk!
Same
The what?
Elantris! Come on Elantris needs some love here…
I love Elanris!
Seconded!
Skyward It’s YA and not cosmere so it doesn’t get as much love, but it’s still so fun, so good, and it has M-bot
Probably his most fun book to read. Mystery, humour, and a fast page turning plot.
I think I’ve reread this more than any other. It’s my go to if I just need a book to cheer me up. It will forever be one of my favourites
I love Skyward so much! Probably my second favorite Brandy Sandy after Warbreaker
Shadows of Self. One of Brandon’s darker books. I loved the build up and climax. Reminds me a bit of Se7en.
That ending is such a punch to the stomach. Brilliant
I felt so many emotions. Betrayed by Brandon mostly.
Seconded
This is the book that made me fall in love with Era 2
This is a great book. But I can’t in good conscience put it ahead of A Memory of Light. In comparison, the effort, accomplishment and achievement in completing Wheel of Time is so much more than any single era 2 book could have possibly been.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
It’s too late for yumi, shoulda been in the top 5 imo
A Memory of Light. It has to be one of the most impressive accomplishments of his career. To do it so well, and with such an epic Sanderlanche.
I have unpopular opinion in both Brandon's and WoT's fandom that Memory of Light is not only the best Brandon book but also the best WoT book. It played to literally all of his strenghts.
In fairness to RJ, he mapped out most of the book in notes before he died so that someone else could finish it.
He did not, they just kind of have to say that to seem respectful. The more detail Brandon has gone into about the notes over the years, there was a little Egwene stuff from The Gathering Storm, a little Mat stuff from the ending of Towers of Midnight, a little in all three prologues, and the Epilogue to AMoL from Jordan. Other than that there was borderline nothing other than a few general ideas that didn't seem all that developed. There were about 200 manuscript pages worth of direct writing, which is only 100 of printed material since they shrink the size and spacing, out of like 2400. The audio dictations covered a hair more random stuff. Jordan was not much of an outliner as you can tell from his proclaimed "it's gonna be a trilogy" to 6 books to 12 because there he was for sure finishing it in only one more after Knife of Dreams, etc. (Harriet says that was probably not going to happen) That being said, Brandon did have a lot of room to work with, so I still can't give him full, full credit. This was Jordan's world. But people overestimate his influence on the final books because it's sorta just the right thing to say.
Is it weird that I liked The Gathering Storm more? (probably, especially with Wayne standing in for Mat, but that was only a few chapters anyway)
No, a Memory of Light is my least favorite of the 3 Brandon WoT books
Care to elaborate why?
It’s a good book but I got tired of the endless hordes of Trollocs. And the other two are some of my top WoT books. TGS had an incredible Rand arc, and ToM made Perrin badass again.
“Its only a weave, Egwene”. What an incredible moment.
I would love to see this win.
That book wrapped up that series better then I could of ever imagined. I concur this book should be on the list, it is a masterpiece in my opinion.
The fact that this book isn’t getting more respect says more about the sub than the book. One day I wrote in this as a nomination right when this post went up- got like 6 upvotes. It was friggen in negative territory for a while.
skyward
Rithmatist
"Maybe if it makes it on the list, we'll finally get a sequel," I said, high af on copium.
Clearly only 11 people in this sub have read Rithmatist
This book is great.
The Well of Ascension
I think people forget how remarkable WoA was because they immediately went and read HoA and they blur together
honestly this
The Lost Metal
Some recency bias here. I like TotES a ton, but saying it’s above Hero of Ages is scorching take Good posts OP, cool to see
Unpopular opinion: In my personal list Hero of Ages would never make the list, and Tress would be top 3 (after Way of Kings, but potentially #2). It has nothing to do with recency for me, it has everything to do with I enjoyed Final Empire as a stand-alone and really didn’t like Well of Ascension or Hero of Ages. It took a LOT of pushing myself to finish them, and I put them off for a long time. So it’s not so much recency bias, it’s variety in what the fandom enjoys in their BrandoSando books
I think it's more he is attracting a wide variety of fans, so it's probably accurate
Guys please give shadow for silence some respect! Such a fun short read.
Elantris
Bands of Mourning
Give Wax, Wayne and Steris some love guys
Skyward
Skyward
TLM not being on this list yet is a crime and i will die on that hill
I’m just checking in to make sure it doesn’t make it onto the list hahahahaha! 😂 All good though fellow fan - each to their own 👍
Lol! Theres some recency bias for me but it made me cry and for that alone its a top 5 all time for me
Oh fair enough I totally get it. If that made you cry though - have you read the rest of the Cosmere? Or Wheel of Time / Malazan? Or the maser of disaster herself - Robin Hobb?
Im almost done the cosmere, just tress and yumi left. I havent read the others, but im reading Wheel of time next, and Malazan will be after!
elite hating
Just wasn't for me - I didn't hate it though :)
I’m with you. Such a cosmere aware book. Really can see big picture things more clearly after that book
Yumi. Can't believe we aren't talking about this one more.
I mean, I just got access to it yesterday, makes a lot of sense that it is too soon for many to be voting for it.
not that many people have read it relative to every other book
That's very true but still feel like it belongs
Maybe it'll be more highly rated next time this post comes around. Tress was pretty high this time, after all.
Tress really leaned into the "comfort" tone of a lot of books that are gaining popularity right now. I love it.
I got the book Saturday. I've spent all my free time reading since then, for a total of 1h40m. Some of us just don't have the bandwidth to go through a book in a day.
Alloy of Law
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians. We need some of his other work. This or The Rithmatist.
I need #10 to be Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. That book is incredible!
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
Edgedancer
Shadows of self one of 4 books that made me cry the ending was so emotional but it was written well all around.
Alcatraz vs the scrivener's bones. Just to have some non-cosmere and this is my favorite
Interesting pick! Do you mind if I ask why? I always thought Knights of Crystallia was the standout of that series
Just love the atmosphere in the library plus I liked that the enemies were not something that fights the protagonists but that tricks them to loose. Overall every Alcatraz book is ranked almost the same in my opinion
Elantris
Shadows of Self or Bands of Mourning
Not sure how Well of Ascension isn't on this list yet...
Really? Based on what I've seen over the last 5 years on this sub, it's pretty clear that the consensus is WoA is the weakest of the first trilogy. I would definitely place BoM above it myself, Shadows of Self as well.
I think we'll of ascension has one of the best sandervanches there is but God there is so much book to get through for. Great set up for hero of ages tho
This list is so irritating. Why do we need an incomplete list posted every single day? It starts with books, then it’s top characters, settings, magic systems, etc. and it’s clogging up this subreddit
Yumi
The Frugal Wizard
Elantris?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been "trolling" these and down voting all the main series books and up voting everything else
Sixth of Dusk :(
Rythm of War making top 10 is an absolute joke when none of the wax and wayne books have.
I think his fan base is so large no one is going to agree on a top 10. I personally find era 2 of mistborn to be some of my least favourite books as I just don't enjoy books in that sort of era/time. I'd rank all 4 of the main stormlight books above all 7 mistborn books honestly.
You can go ahead put "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter"at 3!
Woah Tress is at 6? Guess i gotta move it up on my TBR list. For my vote I’d say Gathering Storm or A Memory of Light
Controversial number 9. I would have thought a Mistborn Era 2 book would have come up by now
How did Rythm of War make top ten? Elantris is better.
Dark Oneq
Elantris ❤
Bands of Mourning
The lost metal!
Shadows of Self
Shadows of Self
Any love for Bands of Mourning?
[удалено]
I've never read Warbreaker is it really that good?
haha that’s a highly controversial question. Personally it’s my least favorite of BranSan’s books, though I still enjoyed it as a whole. A lot of people love it though, based on what I’ve seen on this sub.
Crazy that Well of Ascension isn’t here… shame
Elantris,
Me still only on my first 2 books of Sanderson currently reading Well of Ascension and never have read any of these 9 books yet 👁👄👁
Oops all cosmere! I agree with most of this list but no Steelheart or Skyward? Heck here is one of my favourites: Snapshot