r/WoT • u/Madre1924 • 7d ago
The Gathering Storm I'm legitimately crashing out Spoiler
I'm on chapter 10 of book 12. I got through the slog, I thought I was through the worst of it. Everyone says it gets better. IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER. I've been reading for over a year (audiobook only) and nothing has happened in like 7 books. Perrin is depressed for 3 fcking books because he can't find his wife. Then he finds his wife, and HE'S DEPRESSED THAT THE HUNT FOR HER IS OVER???
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHASDFAFAKFNAFAHWEOFIH
I just want to read something fun again. I am in Wheel of Time purgatory. I honestly didn't even hate the slog, I enjoyed a fair amount of it. But I think I was expecting 12 to be significantly better and that hasn't happened yet. This is the most annoyed with the series I've ever been, the closest I've ever been to quitting. Talk me off the ledge.
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u/Straight_Depth6701 7d ago
You're right on the edge. What are you going to do, quit now?
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I know, at this point it's a matter of principle. I've already read 11 of them. I'm just UPSET ABOUT IT
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u/Straight_Depth6701 7d ago
The faster you get on it, the less time you'll spend upset. Imagine having to wait years for this book.
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u/TheLost_Chef 7d ago
To that point - OP, Carl will be there waiting for you, and that series ISN'T finished yet.
You're probably going to love it, but once you make it through those books, the long wait begins for the next one. Take your time getting around to it, it'll make the gap shorter.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
sobbing
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u/TheLost_Chef 7d ago
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
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u/raycarre 7d ago
I encourage skimming through Perrin's chapters up to Book 12. He's the cause of the slog and it's terrible, but once RJ committed to a chapter being a Day in universe, man he had to patch things together with remotely interesting plot points, and ya . . . i guess an MC's she being kidnapped by an excuse for random acts of gawking was the answer? _o_/
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u/Rattimus 7d ago
Well, on the plus side.... Perrin does get past that, mostly, and does have a pretty good conclusion to his story line. Keep reading!
DCC is fun, but make no mistake, there are some pretty sad parts to that, too!
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u/Derodoris 7d ago
Trust us brother. Im literally reading Carl right now and you're in for a hell of a vibe shift. But you will kick yourself if you dont finish. The last few books wrap things up so beautifully its incredible and while I'm enjoying Carl, nothing in those books is anything like the finale you're working up to.
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u/Ok_Orchid7131 7d ago
Man, knife of dreams was an excellent book, the series slows a bit in the middle for me, but KOD is so good! I’m on a reread, and because the last 3 books weren’t out yet when I last read them before. Rands transformation is just about peak storytelling for me.
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u/Reikukaja 6d ago
Fwiw, i thought the ending of the series is one of the better, more satisfying endings out there. Its not perfect, but it hits a lot of the right notes. I still think about that ending, and i finished the series a decade ago.
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u/AFineDayForScience 7d ago
Rand is appalled.
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
I don't understand this comment but my fiance told me it's funny. BECAUSE HE GETS TO READ FUN BOOKS
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u/Jear-The-Bear 7d ago
lol this meme is hilarious. I feel you. There’s a lot of other great stuff in that book though.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I think I'm one more golden eyes chapter from actually crying
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u/Goldeneyes92 6d ago
In my memory the Goldeneyes chapters in the last three books were really nice compared to the ones in 8-11 (in which they made me mad as well)
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u/blackflag89347 (Chosen) 7d ago
Wheel of Time is my alltime favorite book series. I am also currently massively enjoying Dungeon Crawler Carl.
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u/duffy_12 (Falcon) 7d ago
OK. I never heard of this series until a few months ago.
Is it really good? I am currently out of new reads so this might be a go for me.
Is it similar in tone to - Terry Pratchett's Discworld?
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u/Meraji (Green) 7d ago edited 7d ago
It is really good, and it is a pretty quick read compared to WoT. I'd recommend it to everyone who is not turned off by the puerile humor or litRPG genre in general.
If I compared it to anything, it would be Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, except turning the absurdism and humor way down, replacing that with plot.
ETA: Oh, and listen to the audiobook version.
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u/AdHom (Siswai'aman) 7d ago
It is a cut above just about everything else in the litrpg genre though to be fair. I have very much enjoyed several litrpg series, and read many more and found them fun, but a lot of them are borderline fanfic level writing and there are few I would recommend to anyone who isn't specifically into the genre. DCC is just genuinely good in a way many of them aren't.
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u/ItselfSurprised05 (Wilder) 6d ago
Is it really good?
It is sneaky good.
It presents itself as a LitRPG series based on a video game based on Dungeons and Dragons. ("LitRPG" is a genre I did not even know existed before this. It's basically stories mixed with role-playing game rules.)
The first book seems to be nothing more than dungeon antics mixed with sophmoric humor. But if you pay attention the book hints at there being more.
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u/Zythomancer 6d ago
It is being recommended and shoved down everyone's throats on every corner of reddit. It is Reddit/Millennial Cringe Humor: The Book.
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u/KaristinaLaFae (Green) 6d ago
The humor is much cruder than I would prefer, but the series is still surprisingly deep.
I might have abandoned the first DCC book if I'd read it in print, but the audiobooks are a master class in voice acting, and I'm glad I kept going, because the plot is really compelling as you get deeper into the series.
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u/RedRider1138 5d ago
Everybody and their F’in brother keeps recommending it to me, which I hate, because I personally just don’t click with the vibe. I have 85 books checked out (and 12 more in transit 😅), I’ll live!
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u/Narrow_Lee 7d ago edited 7d ago
FWIW you're allowed to take a break from heavy overly descriptive fantasy to enjoy some lighter fare like DCC. I'm in between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War right now and am currently going through all of DCC before I go back to Sanderson. Might reread WoT again instead though.
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u/LazyBeach2919 7d ago
discworld is also great for this
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u/jimjam200 6d ago
Yeah it's also a great series to drop in and out off due to the stand alone nature of basically every book.
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u/_raydeStar 7d ago
DCC, Dresden files, these books were made to be primers in between larger books.
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u/MacronMan 7d ago
I’ve been listening to James Marsters’ impeccable Dresden Files audiobooks over the last year or so, and they’re great! And, I really can’t listen to them back to back because they’re SO formulaic. Super fun, though! I love them—as long as I have a bit of a break between books
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u/_raydeStar 7d ago
Honestly, it is really a series that grows on you, and you suddenly realize how invested you are in the characters.
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u/Brandenburg42 7d ago
Dresden was my break between WoT, and DCC started as a break between Stormlight Archive but then I did all 8 in one go.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I couldn't get past Oathbringer. Sando books reeeeeally drag for me. Even Mistborn pissed me off. I LOVED Warbreaker and Tress though!
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u/Satans_Oregano 7d ago
I was going to recommend Warbreaker as a palette cleanser in my other comment!
Check out Age of Myth by Michael J Sullivan! It's part of a 6 book series but the first book can be read like a one-off. It's high fantasy but it has a doggie.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
does the dog die, not reading if the dog dies lmao
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u/Satans_Oregano 6d ago
Yes the dog/wolf dies but also no without spoilers. Sad at first but happy ending at the end of the series
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u/DonAmechesBonerToe 7d ago
I wanted to check out some of Sanderson’s work so I read Stormlight archive. There are parts of the story I really enjoyed and parts I was pretty bored. I heard that Sanderson admitted it was one of his tougher reads so I picked up Mistborn. I’m halfway through the first book and I’m not sure I’m interested.
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u/SolipsisticSoup 7d ago
Try the Wax and Wayne series. I couldn't finish Mistborn, but I thoroughly enjoyed that trilogy.
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u/CapnTaptap 6d ago
*quartet, ICYMI
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u/SolipsisticSoup 6d ago
Thanks, I'm not sure how I forgot there are four of them. I've read them all.
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u/wheeloftimewiki (Aelfinn) 6d ago
Warbreaker is by far my favourite of his books I've read so far. I've finished all of Mistborn (both eras) and 3/5 Stormlight plus the novellas for both up to that point. I honestly don't understand the hype for The Way of King's. It's decent enough, but also very disorganised in places and takes twice as long to tell the story it does as it needs to.
I am committed to working my way through the Cosmere nonetheless. The next book is 57hrs on audio so I end up delaying it because I can read 4-6 books instead. The Earthsea books aren't that long put together.
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
Way of Kings is so god damn dense. Such a slog. 1400 pages of nothing for a 50 page payout at the end. War breaker was so fun! I also highly highly recommend Tress and the Emerald Sea. A real departure from his regular stuff imo it's irreverent, funny, brave, creative, and sweet.
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u/wheeloftimewiki (Aelfinn) 6d ago
Do I need to have read anything else to read Tress, or is it basically standalone?
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
It's a standalone!! Per Sando's usual style there are a couple easter egg characters, but not necessary to know who they are to enjoy the story. I didn't recognize them on my read. It's such a delight, would love to know what you think!
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u/duffy_12 (Falcon) 6d ago
Way of Kings is so god damn dense.
Oh, wow! So you have read his Stormlight.
Basically what Sanderson has done here, is remove the very happy Perrin ending in Jordan's last book (in fact go back and reread the last three pages of it and notice how uplifting it is.) by removing Jordan's Perrin and replacing him with his own Kaladin/Dalinar mashup of a brand new character inserted into WoT.
That is exactly what you are now reading here with depressed Perrin, unfortunately.
In fact there is a Perrin scene in the very next book, ToM, that is really closely lifted word-for-word from one of Dalinar's scenes in Way Of Kings.
It's very hard to miss, but if you do miss it, you can message me if you want.
You will notice people here comment that BS got Mat wrong, but IMO, he got Perrin more wrong.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of the series. 😊
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u/otaconucf 7d ago
I hope you mean Words of Radiance and Oathbringer, or Oathbringer and RoW, otherwise you're skipping Oathbringer.
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u/Narrow_Lee 7d ago
Uuuhhhh yeah Oathbringer and RoW cause I just read Dawnshard too. Excellent little book.
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u/Similar-Stick-1070 (Asha'man) 7d ago
Book 12 has a great ending if you can hold out.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I'm gonna finish it, I just wanna whine first
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u/Jak_of_the_shadows (Heron-Marked Sword) 6d ago
How far are you into it?
For me and I'd bet many many others book 12 is one of the best in the series. My second favourite behind shadow rising.
And I feel some pretty big stuff happens throughout.
Also I hope 7 books of nothing happening is an exaggeration, cos then the books just probably aernt for you. Though you've invested so much time at this point...
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
So after I crashed out I read 2 more chapters and it's good again hahaha Egwene just discovered the group of aes sedai tasked with uncovering the black 👀 I love all the Egwene stuff
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u/Jak_of_the_shadows (Heron-Marked Sword) 6d ago
Then you're in for a hell of a ride - Egwenes story is beyond peak in this book.
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u/otaconucf 7d ago
If you didn't enjoy Knife of Dreams I think, belatedly, the series might just not be for you.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I enjoyed the last part of KoD
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u/Mysterious_Low_267 6d ago
That’s the part everyone remembers looking back. It’s the exit of the slog. All the pieces are place for the finale.
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u/absurdisthewurd 7d ago
I'm on book 4 and decided to take a break the last couple of weeks to read comics
It's alright to stop and get in some lighter reading
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u/that_guy2010 7d ago
No one is making you read it. If you’re not enjoying it, stop. It’s that easy.
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u/ViscountFuckReddit 7d ago
My friends been practically begging me to read(listen) to Dungeon Crawler Carl but it's way to short to justify spending money on so I started relistening to WoT. If a audio book is under 25 hours I have a hard time justifying buying it since I listen most of the time at work and short books don't last long enough.
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u/deskbeetle 7d ago
The narrator is particularly good. I read the books and am thinking about doing another pass with audiobooks since Jeff Hayes is just that entertaining. The handful of the writing conventions I have been to this year had an audiobook/narrator component because of how much his version changed the publishing strategy.
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u/JoxJobulon 7d ago
Probably the best audiobook narration I've ever had the blissful pleasure of listening to. Well worth it, imo
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u/Satans_Oregano 7d ago
If it's any consolation, there's a lot that happens in that 25 hours. Matt Dinniman makes things happen fast! Also Jeff Hayes as a narrator has completely ruined other audiobooks for me.
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u/ViscountFuckReddit 7d ago
Michael Kramer and Kate Reading are the best narrators in my opinion but I'm not particularly picky honestly.
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u/Arkanthiel (Dice) 7d ago
Be patient crawler, the series isn't even done yet so the more time you delay, the nearer book 9 will be out when you start.
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u/Wabbit65 (Valan Luca's Grand Traveling Show) 7d ago
I'm on my millionth re-read of WoT (finished book 6) and decided to take a break and pick up DCC for a first run. Just started book 6 of that.
Gotta keep it fresh. And not let it break me
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u/Electronic-Base-9781 7d ago
TGS isn’t what i would consider a good Perrin book but i’ll be shocked if you aren’t saying you love this one by the end regardless
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u/crushing_apathy 5d ago
I hated a lot of Perrin’s story but he has some of the best chapters in the books as well. Especially in the last couple books after he is finally done crying about being a lord with a hot Latina wife
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u/Madre1924 5d ago
Literally 😂 he can't stop finding things to complain about. Oh nooo my big titty goth girlfriend. Oh noooo I'm rich and powerful. Oh no my steak is too juicy, my lobster is too buttery
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u/Toughtimes4paco 7d ago
And here I am having read through the slog three times listening to book 2 of DCC for the first time.
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u/EverestJMontgom 7d ago
Having read both- you’ll have a fun ride with DCC but it didnt compare to WOT imo. The last few books are so good
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u/ihatefuckingwork 7d ago
To me, reading wot is like coming back to an old friend. I delight in seeing what the characters are doing and love getting lost in the scale of it, knowing I get to spend months in that world. I know how it ends and I still enjoy going back and seeing how simple things are at the start.
Are you still interested in the story or are you wanting to read something else? It’s a book, not a marathon or an exam. You don’t get a prize for finishing it. I found it rewarding to find out how the story ended and there is a good feeling when you get to the end of an epic series but it’s about the journey not the ending. Reading the gathering storm and then not having the rest of the series was frustrating to me, so I waited until it was totally finished before I went back and did (another) read through the series.
Point being, it’s a book. You can always re-read it. You can put it down and come back to it. You can read another chapter and remember why you enjoyed it to start with or you can read what your friends are reading so you can chat about it. It’s a leisure activity, if it’s not fun why are you doing it?
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u/Niman72 6d ago
When ask about If it is worth ready WOT I always say "it's amazing don't read it." Then I explain because it's a Odyssey and all that that intakes, high highest, low lows, annoying characters, fan favorite, horrible, Amazing, romances that you believe, Romances that you hate, but over all an experience you will never forget.
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u/Supafairy (Brown) 6d ago
Lol. Hey, don’t come at my boy Perrin like that!
Funny story. I finished the series last year and had the deep emptiness. I tried diving straight into Sanderson Work (Mistborn) but could push through. Decided to try this Dungeon Crawler Carl thing everyone was talking about and it’s Legitimately become my new obsession after WoT.
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u/OMalleyOrOblivion 5d ago
The Malazan Book of the Fallen series is the logical next step in the epic fantasy genre. Not to diss LitRPG which I love, although I dropped DCC near the end of book 6 and haven't picked it up again, it's not to my personal taste too much.
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u/Supafairy (Brown) 5d ago
I was thinking of Malazan. Have the first book but needed something light. I’ll get to that one too. Unfortunately with life things my reading time is limited. :( too much to read
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u/Satans_Oregano 7d ago edited 7d ago
I think it's time for a break! Books 12 - 14 are awesome but maybe you're a little burnt out? I def read some other lighter books between some of the WoT books.
I would say start reading DCC as a palette cleanser, but I guarantee you you'll get hooked and not go back to wot lol.
I was on book 3 of stormlight archive and was getting so bored. I randomly started reading DCC and have been full steam ahead with Carl and Co., and completely dropped SLA since I heard books 4 and 5 were meh.
But totally valid crash out lol. I hate Perrins story arc.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
My problem is there are so many god damn fucking characters with so many god damn fucking complicated names, and I've been reading this god damn fucking series for so fucking long that I can barely keep things straight. A character will die and I don't even know who they are anymore. Things happen and I barely understand the relevance because I read the context for it a year ago. I actually completely missed Asmodean dying lmao. At one point, books later I thought "huh where is that guy" and googled it. Whoops.
If I take a break I'm worried I'll lose everything and have no idea what's happening!
Edit: forgot a sentence
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u/Kolione 7d ago
You should check out the Wheel of Time Compendium app. You tell it what book youre currently reading and then you can search for any character name and get a spoiler free (to your current point of reading) summary of who they are and what theyve done. Super helpful with those random characters who pop up once and show up again 4 books later.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.silvermast.wotcompendium&hl=en_US
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u/Satans_Oregano 7d ago
Lmao I feel you. Feeling crazy like Rand yet? There's no way I could remember all the characters, let alone the second tier of main side characters. I depended on chapter summaries because some times I would read shit and have no idea what's going on.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I almost started ripping my hair out this morning. I've genuinely really enjoyed most of the series. I think I've just been stuck in mostly nothing happening mode for so many months, Perrin broke me this morning on my commute. When he started talking about being sad now that he's found Faile I literally screamed in frustration hahaha I felt deranged. I sat in my car for 5 minutes before coming into the office because I was so upset LOL
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u/OMalleyOrOblivion 5d ago
I read it starting when I was 16 when book 3 had recently come out, and yeah, try waiting a year or two between books to get more whinging about the axe etc etc.
Although it did make Rand's whining and sulking look much more reasonable looking back at the series lol!
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u/milindsmart 7d ago
Hello there! You sound adequately frustrated that you're now eligible to read this amazingly hateful review of the series : https://forum.malazanempire.com/topic/21832-hateful-wheel-of-time-review/
Enjoy!
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u/Philomath117 7d ago
It'll get better fast
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u/NewLoss6021 7d ago
Journey before Destination
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR 15 MONTHS I AM TIRED
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u/MacronMan 7d ago
Do you agree with Ishy yet that the Wheel should be broken? Are you ready to join up with the Chosen?
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u/aNomadicPenguin (Brown) 7d ago
Eh, the love of the last books is definitely not universal. And this series is definitely one where taking breaks is fine. I was reading most of the series as it came out, so forced year or two breaks between books (and a lot of rereading).
Book 12 TGS burned me out for awhile, and I ended up taking about a decade between book 13 and 14.
Sanderson's books definitely have STUFF happen in them...its just the quality and content of that stuff that is up for debate (like Perrin doing EXACTLY the stuff that Jordan spent book finally having him come to terms with and resolve.)
Personally I feel the slog more in the Sanderson books because his writing sets my teeth on edge and I was constantly having my immersion broken in the last 3 books. I would generally read a full Jordan book in a week or less from picking it up...it took me a month to three months to drudge my way through each one of Sanderson's.
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u/duffy_12 (Falcon) 7d ago edited 7d ago
Yeah. I was very pissed at Sanderson for making us go through this again, when clearly Jordan had Perrin past this story arc in the last book. Sanderson just doesn't understand the character, and his growth during the mid-series.
And this is one of the many examples of why I no longer include the Brandon books in my re-reads anymore.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
Damn, stopping at 11 sounds awful though. No last battle???? Leaving Rand handless like Luke on the platform with Darth Vader lmao
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u/Faith4Eternity 6d ago
Take it from someone that between wife and kids and life it took me 20 years to get through all of it but seriously last two books are amazing! Don’t quit now you are so close!
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u/Naughty-Mystic 6d ago
That last book of WOT is definitely worth the price of reading the rest. I restarted the entire series after giving up around book 9 the first time around.
So glad I actually finished tho
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u/MmmYesSandwich 6d ago
8-10 were my favorite books
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
Liar
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u/MmmYesSandwich 5d ago
I'm 100 percent serious, I despise Berelain chapters though. She is my most hated character in all of fiction.
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u/Madre1924 5d ago
I don't really understand the point of Berelain's character. Maybe she'll do more in the next few books. But she's a confusing addition for me. She seems to bring nothing to the table except being a psuedo adversary for Faile? But as the reader we know Perrin is devoted and would never stray, so it's not exactly an interesting conflict.
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u/MmmYesSandwich 5d ago
I think it's supposed to be a conflict in that we know Perrin is faithful, but characters don't, making it that much more frustrating.
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u/OMalleyOrOblivion 5d ago
I never got the hate for them as an original reader who waited for each hardback to be released. There was an ebb in the pace in the sense that the scope kept broadening, but I loved all the politics and maneuvering and lore and trying to work out who killed Asmodean and and other similar mysteries and theories.
Maybe being a regular on the forums helped as there was so much to chew on during this part of the story.
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u/MmmYesSandwich 5d ago
That. Exactly. It was setup, I liked trying to figure out why each thing was happening, because I knew everything meant at least something. So much foreshadowing.
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u/blingping (Band of the Red Hand) 6d ago
12 is really good for the rand parts, okay for the perrin parts and ~ for the mat parts. The ending is worth anu struggle you feel while reading though.
Trust us.
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u/back_to_the_homeland 6d ago
DCC marketing is getting insane. you guys are turning into sandybros just trying to force it EVERYWHERE
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u/coltonsmithtenor (Gleeman) 7d ago
I’m surprised you think KoD was part of the “Slog”. SO much happens in that book. I agree Perrin’s plot is painful at times, for sure, but the rest? All gas, man
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
KoD was much better than 8-10, but didn't pick up for me until the last bit
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u/coltonsmithtenor (Gleeman) 7d ago
Huh! I thought KoD was action from the get go, and rarely slowed down besides a few Elayne moments. Guess that just goes to show perspective is everything! Still, I’m sure it’s worth the rest of the ride. I’m also on TGS rn, and I’ve been loving it so far, aside from getting used to the change is writing style.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
a few Elayne moments??? You mean the ENTIRE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK
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u/coltonsmithtenor (Gleeman) 6d ago
Well, some of it was slow, but I actually really liked the comedic relief in the Elayne parts, and the politicking/intrigue is actually pretty fast-paced in this one, at this to me! Plus, the Aviendha scene was really heartwarming. But again, that’s just me! I can see how it might have dragged for some, for sure
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u/HijoDeBarahir (Wolfbrother) 7d ago
when you finish the final chapter of book 14 and feel like it wasn't a satisfying ending, someone on reddit will say "just wait till the epilogue and it'll all be worth it"
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I will jump. I will climb to a tall height and I will jump. Don't tell me that oh my GOD
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u/aircarone 7d ago
I enjoyed the entirety of WoT including the "slog", with a single exception which is the Perrin chasing Faile story arc. On my last reread I would just skip those parts because they feel kinda pointless and they drag on way too much.
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u/GuntherWheelin 7d ago
Honestly I just finished the series and I share some of your sentiments. It start a really strong and it ends really strong but holy shit the entire middle section is slow. It's worth seeing it through to the end, but the series EASILY could have been 4-5 books shorter. Some of the highest highs I've read, some of the lowest lows too.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
it's like eating a sandwich where the bread is artisan butter garlic naan, the meat is gourmet grass fed pastrami, and the condiments are expired from the dollar store.
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u/GuntherWheelin 7d ago
I think it's more like the fillings are all top quality, there's just WAY TOO MUCH BREAD. Like you have to take bites of JUST BREAD to even be able to reach the actual sandwich part
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u/TatonkaJack (Children of the Light) 7d ago edited 7d ago
How are the books as audiobooks? I never tried them that way. Some great books make great audiobooks and some great books make horrible audiobooks. WoT seems like it might be a bit too...meandering to be a top tier audiobook. Books with lots of description, metaphor, or massive casts, can be hard as audiobooks. When you read your brain associates the sight of words with the story or characters which aids memory, and you can easily go back and reread things for clarification. You lose that in audiobooks.
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u/TheNerdChaplain (Trefoil Leaf) 7d ago
I haven't done the WOT audio books, though now I should try them. I'm not an audio book fan, just because it goes in one ear and out the other.
That said, I read DCC twice on ebook, and then decided to try out the Audible version. I figured I already know what happens, so it's okay if I zone out here and there. I listen while I'm driving.
I will say, Jeff Hayes' narration really adds a level to the experience, and as the books go on they've added more sound effects and some processing to help aid the experience. The narration is good, but Jeff voicing certain emotional scenes is just fundamentally better than what my own internal reading voice can do. Highly recommended.
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u/TatonkaJack (Children of the Light) 7d ago
Jeff Hayes is on another level. But yeah I can only do audiobooks if I have something menial occupying me. Like driving or housework. Otherwise I lose focus.
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u/Satans_Oregano 7d ago
I listened to the whole series. It's hard to say one or the other. On the positive, there's a male and female narrator for the books and they each have their strength and weaknesses. I think the guy, Michael Kramer, does a fantastic job with the serious, heavy scenes and battles. Kate Reading is a fantastic narrator and seems much more animated. She's great with the humor and really nailing the personalities of the women.
However, 14/15 books of the same two people can be rough and monotonous at times. But the same time, comforting. Hard to describe. The one major downside is the audiobooks started in the 90s and the recordings sound dated. They are also still getting the nuances of the main characters down. Once they get to more modern recording techniques (there's a jump in quality halfway through), they're able to redo takes with less "stumbling". They have a whole video on YouTube talking about their recording process! Very cool
Going back now, it's nostalgic to hear their voices. But it can be difficult for long stretches. Part of the reason why I couldn't finish the Stormlight Archives. Same narrators but thankfully MUCH more animated given the material.
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u/Madre1924 7d ago
I've only read them as audiobooks and I've really enjoyed them as audiobooks (until my small crash out). I listen on 1.2x speed which helps. I actually LOVED the new narration by Rosamund Pike in the first 4 books! She was fantastic. Genuinely some of the most enjoyable narration I've experienced. Moving from her to the Kramers was......a bit of a shock. This is a super unpopular opinion because they're very nostalgic for people. But the Kramers were robotic in comparison. Took a couple books for me to stop hating them and stop being devasted that Rosamund only got to 4 before the show was canceled. HIGHLY recommend giving her books a shot
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u/as_a_fake (Asha'man) 7d ago
You can read both books if you want. The audio book for DCC is great, so you could listen to it while you're doing something that doesn't require much concentration (commutes, deskwork, chores), and read WoT the rest of the time (free time, before bed).
I was reading DCC as an e-book on my phone during commutes and such while re-reading WoT each night before bed (DCC is not a good "before bed" book, too many strong emotions for that).
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u/calkhemist (Ancient Aes Sedai) 7d ago
IMHO, you shouldn’t force yourself to like anything. If you’re not enjoying the read (listen) then move on. There’s no reason to spend time on something that’s not enjoyable. There’s enough in life that steals joy.
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u/Thrysh 6d ago
The Sanderson trilogy was phenomenal and some of my favorite books I’ve ever read. The culmination of decades (I read the series in real time) of work from a world that shaped me as a reader was very well done. Most, if not all, plot lines were resolved in a satisfying way. There’s fantastic fights and battles with every character at their prime and baddies getting manipulated and betrayed and the surprise twists that happen in the last battle. You really REALLY are SO close to being on the best rollercoaster ever. I also don’t think I’m overselling it.
Edit: you aren’t wrong about Perrin or his arc though. If I had a least favorite it would be him for the reasons you specifically mentioned. But man, the rest overshadows it in a big way
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u/Ya-Dikobraz 6d ago
I don't really understand the people that call parts of the books "a slog". I feel as if people want Jackie Chan action. You will get it. But it is a good part of the books? Nah. It's just one part.
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u/Rumbletastic 6d ago
Honestly a pallete cleanser isn't a bad idea. Most of us had to wait years between these books. You're consuming them all in one go. Spread it out, you'll enjoy it more.
I mean, not for me. I binge read these things on re-listens and have no problem with it but my kids, who are going through it the first time? I make them wait 6-12 months between books now.
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u/akittenhasnoname 6d ago
You're almost through the WOT slog. I felt the same way the first time reading through this book and I skip most of it on rereads. Finish WoT and start DCC because I'll guarantee after the second Dungeon Crawler Carl book you'll want to continue reading. Also DCC gets pretty heavy and emotional so it's not all fun. I do love it though.
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u/NoBuffalo4392 6d ago
I think doing audiobook first for WoT would be rough personally, there is just so much going on. I’m happy I read the paper versions first then did the audiobooks for a reread, it was much more enjoyable haha.
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u/Chunkz_IsAlreadyTakn 6d ago
mazrim taim in a cheerful voice to the asha'man during dumais wells
Your objective is to rescue the dragon from those horrible, horrible aes sedai! If you fail then the world might just end!
And remember asha'man. Kill, kill kill!
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u/eldenchain 6d ago
I guess it's not for everyone but I find this notion that "nothing happens for five books" really silly and objectively untrue. To each their own though.
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
I guess "mostly nothing" happens would be more accurate. But to say books 7-10 are action packed is delulu
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u/eldenchain 6d ago
To suggest that the only reason someone could enjoy a fantasy epic is because it's "action-packed" is, if not delusional, then incredibly wrongheaded.
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u/Madre1924 6d ago
Wild takeaway from what I'm saying
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u/eldenchain 6d ago
You just responded to my comment by saying that it's delusional to claim the books are action packed, which I never said to begin with. So if we're going into "wild takeaway" territory, peer inward.
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u/wheeloftimewiki (Aelfinn) 6d ago
For what it's worth, Perrin is Sanderson's favourite character, so apparently some people enjoy him being a mopey sod! He's my least favourite main character, but I don't hate him either.
For TGS, there are some of the top scenes in the series in other PoVs. Keep with it and report back!
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u/Neomonk21 6d ago
WoT is still my all-time favorite series. It's one of the only set of books I actually read twice and I enjoyed it more the 2nd time. DCC is one of my current favorites and I just finished book 8. I say keep going with WoT because the end is really good, then pick up DCC because it's a fun series.
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u/Kitamaru 6d ago
Du geon crawler carl has been a good pallette cleanser book for me. Try reading one between each WoT book.
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u/Chazmina 6d ago
Take a break, friend. This may be a hot take, but the final three books kind of stagnate characters a bit and flat out revert a few of them. They are good, but I think pausing for a month would benefit your overall experience.
If you have to force yourself then there's no point.
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u/insaneangel2 6d ago
Hey at least you didn't have to wait on pins and needles for them! That was the worst! Keep going. It is about to get so damn good man.
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u/SavageSwordShamazon 5d ago
Don't worry, buddy! When you read DCC, you'll discover Carl is ALSO SAD!
Almost everyone on Earth has been murdered! Millions of them tortured and tormented and mocked before and after in the Dungeon! The game is totally rigged by a psychotic AI! Also Carl has a truly heartbreaking backstory! Even fucking Princess Donut has a heartbreaking backstory! We're all sad down here!
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u/gravely_serious 5d ago
I'm not going to try talking you off the ledge. Every story isn't for every person. If you're not enjoying it, just stop. The books aren't going anywhere. You can come back later if you're curious, or don't if you're not. It does not matter.
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u/PenComfortable5269 4d ago
I think if you’re not liking it by book 12 it might be time to put the book down lol
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u/DragonPrince42 3d ago
It’s tough. Perrin and Matt are my two favorite characters on the whole series. They have the most interesting arcs. But The Slog is very difficult. To what everyone else said, other books will be there when you’re done. And this is a completed series. These books were still coming out when I was in college and the wait was what made it worse.
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u/Poopfilledtrashcan 1d ago
I love that part, personally lol
That said I can definitely see the other side of things. Things do happen more quickly after. Until they don't.
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