Help decide my next fantasy read! Will it be Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice or Stephen King’s Fairy Tale? Vote for my fate, meet our Epic Fantasy Loot Giveaway winner, and enter to win a set of Book SLAYER sword bookmarks!
Woohoo! I just emailed you about your loot. Thanks for the recommendation for Fairy Tales - according to the poll, it's looking like it will be the winner!
Thanks, Eric! It looks like Fairy Tale is going to clinch the win from the poll vote, but I'll definitely wind up reading both at some point. Hope you're doing well my friend!
I absolutely recommend Assassin's Apprentice! I've read it four times and now, thanks to you, I want to read it again! I have King's 'Fairy Tale' but haven't read it yet. (That's pretty cool that King reads the messages in the audio version)
My next read is The Last Unicorn, and some of those in your 'Next Ten' list look pretty good too!
Wait...miniature swords as bookmarks?? What could be better for a Fantasy fan?!?
Let me know how you like The Last Unicorn. I'm a child of the 80s, so grew up with the traumatizing (😁) cartoon movie. I started reading the book for the first time a few years back, and just couldn't get into the writing for some reason. I know Beagle comes highly recommended for fantasy fans, but I just wasn't feeling it. I do plan on going back and giving it another go, though. Let me know what you think when you read it.
LOL about the sword bookmarks! I mean . . . that's the way I felt about them. ⚔️
Tough call on the books, but I’d say maybe start with King to finish up your summer reading. Then move on to the trilogy…err, 16 books. That will get you through the winter. Also, like someone else suggested, track down a copy of King’s Eyes of the Dragon. Fun read for sure.
Those Book Slayer Bookmarks are cool! As for the two books, since Stephen King is known for horror and that's not my thing, I'd probably go for the other book instead (even if it is part of a series), but that's just me.
Right on, Dronak! I'm with you about (most types) of horror. For some reason, I really enjoy the campy kind of horror fantasy movies, like Evil Dead (Bruce Campbell), though.
Glad you like those bookmarks. They're even cooler in person. They could also serve as some alternate weapons for any action figures of sufficient size. ⚔️
I read the Fitz and Fool trilogy, because it was in a bag of paperbacks my boss gave me. It was really good, but I hear that the first trilogy is really cliche. By that Golden Fool trilogy, Fitz is getting older and has health problems, his wolf is getting old, and the kingdom doesn't want him. It made for a really interesting read. But it was past all the cliches by then. No idea about Stephen King, but it looks interesting.
Thank you for sharing that context between the trilogies, K.M.! (BTW - you must have a really awesome boss, that they gave you a bag of fantasy books!) 📚
My boss at the time read paperback fantasy the way women read romance novels. He didn't remember titles or authors. He read indiscriminately from the middle of series. Every so often I would get lucky and he would have a complete Dragonlance trilogy or something. But most of them were trash tier World of Warcraft tie ins or something.
hahaha - I used to have a friend like that. Could devour entire trilogies in an evening. But he actually (somehow) retained everything.
Picking up books in the middle of the series would probably induce OCD revulsion in me. When I was a kid, I picked up "The Black Cauldron" from a Scholastic Book Fair, not realizing it was the second in the series. I NEVER read it, always hoping to get the first book in a subsequent book fair. But that book fair never came . . .
Personally, I prefer Assassin's Apprentice but I am a huge Stephen King fan. I just felt Fairy Tale, while it has a great beginning part leading to a lesser fantasy portion. I'd go with Hobb on this one and there are so many other much better King books.
Hmm, that’s a tough one J.Q. and not for any good reasons! 😁
I’m a constant reader and think that Fairy Tale is one of King’s weakest books. However, I also tried to read Assassins Apprentice and only got 100 pages in before putting it aside as it was just too cliched. So, yeah, I’m the wrong person to ask!
Well, the only other fantasy books he has written are Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman. However, the latter is more horror/fantasy and the former is a children’s book. However, as much as it was maligned when it was published, I do enjoy Eyes of the Dragon
Me and you both with The Dragonbone Chair J.Q. I thought I was the only one! 😁
Yeah, the tropes are what get me. The fact I’ve read these types of stories so many times before means they have to have a special hook to pull me in. Neither Dragonbone Chair or Assassins Apprentice had that for me. Whereas, Name of the Wind, which I know a lot of people don’t like, did work for me 👍🏼
Ooh, I may have to take a peek at Eyes of the Dragon, then. And also The Talisman. I don't mind a bit of horror mixed in - I just usually prefer a heroic style - or at least some heroic end results. All grimdark isn't usually fun.
It's been a year since I finished The Dragonbone Chair, and funny enough, I've been tempted to pick up the 2nd book (which I already own) to see if it gets better.
LOVED Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. They were a couple of the books that drew me back into the world of fantasy as an adult. Can't believe they came out way back in 2007 and 2011!!! Where has the time (and the 3rd book in the trilogy) gone?
In case you haven't come across these, another fantasy trilogy I really loved at that same time was the Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham.
Yeah, I was wondering if that 3rd book will ever arrive, but seems the author has had a few personal issues to deal with so that’s probably why it’s taking longer
I’ll make sure and check that out that other trilogy as it looks good. Thanks for the recommendation J.Q. 👍🏼
I highly recommend Fairy Tale. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm going to read it again. I 'm not sure what to say without using spoilers. the majority of those who've read it, rate it very high;y and a keeper - myself included.
Awesome - thank you, David! (Also, thanks for not giving away any spoilers.) Some folks have mentioned they like other King novels way better, but I don't have any comparison to know the difference.
Ok. That's what I was sensing (and hoping) when starting to see this book around. And then finding out King wrote it as a pet happiness project during the pandemic made me even more curious.
Omg!!! Thank you sooooooo much! I’m so excited! Btw I read Fairy Tales and loved it.
Woohoo! I just emailed you about your loot. Thanks for the recommendation for Fairy Tales - according to the poll, it's looking like it will be the winner!
got the email and gave you my info! 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Both sound good though Assassin's Apprentice would be my first choice. Both are going on my ever growing to read list though.
Thanks, Eric! It looks like Fairy Tale is going to clinch the win from the poll vote, but I'll definitely wind up reading both at some point. Hope you're doing well my friend!
Both books do look fun, but I know I'm intrigued by King's take on fairy tales!
I hear you, Nick. The poll is still live, but Fairy Tale has maintained its lead. Will probably be my next read!
I absolutely recommend Assassin's Apprentice! I've read it four times and now, thanks to you, I want to read it again! I have King's 'Fairy Tale' but haven't read it yet. (That's pretty cool that King reads the messages in the audio version)
My next read is The Last Unicorn, and some of those in your 'Next Ten' list look pretty good too!
Wait...miniature swords as bookmarks?? What could be better for a Fantasy fan?!?
🦄 Thanks, Carolyn!
Let me know how you like The Last Unicorn. I'm a child of the 80s, so grew up with the traumatizing (😁) cartoon movie. I started reading the book for the first time a few years back, and just couldn't get into the writing for some reason. I know Beagle comes highly recommended for fantasy fans, but I just wasn't feeling it. I do plan on going back and giving it another go, though. Let me know what you think when you read it.
LOL about the sword bookmarks! I mean . . . that's the way I felt about them. ⚔️
Tough call on the books, but I’d say maybe start with King to finish up your summer reading. Then move on to the trilogy…err, 16 books. That will get you through the winter. Also, like someone else suggested, track down a copy of King’s Eyes of the Dragon. Fun read for sure.
Thanks for the advice (and additional endorsement for Eyes of the Dragon) Mark-Man!
Those Book Slayer Bookmarks are cool! As for the two books, since Stephen King is known for horror and that's not my thing, I'd probably go for the other book instead (even if it is part of a series), but that's just me.
Right on, Dronak! I'm with you about (most types) of horror. For some reason, I really enjoy the campy kind of horror fantasy movies, like Evil Dead (Bruce Campbell), though.
Glad you like those bookmarks. They're even cooler in person. They could also serve as some alternate weapons for any action figures of sufficient size. ⚔️
I read the Fitz and Fool trilogy, because it was in a bag of paperbacks my boss gave me. It was really good, but I hear that the first trilogy is really cliche. By that Golden Fool trilogy, Fitz is getting older and has health problems, his wolf is getting old, and the kingdom doesn't want him. It made for a really interesting read. But it was past all the cliches by then. No idea about Stephen King, but it looks interesting.
Thank you for sharing that context between the trilogies, K.M.! (BTW - you must have a really awesome boss, that they gave you a bag of fantasy books!) 📚
My boss at the time read paperback fantasy the way women read romance novels. He didn't remember titles or authors. He read indiscriminately from the middle of series. Every so often I would get lucky and he would have a complete Dragonlance trilogy or something. But most of them were trash tier World of Warcraft tie ins or something.
hahaha - I used to have a friend like that. Could devour entire trilogies in an evening. But he actually (somehow) retained everything.
Picking up books in the middle of the series would probably induce OCD revulsion in me. When I was a kid, I picked up "The Black Cauldron" from a Scholastic Book Fair, not realizing it was the second in the series. I NEVER read it, always hoping to get the first book in a subsequent book fair. But that book fair never came . . .
Personally, I prefer Assassin's Apprentice but I am a huge Stephen King fan. I just felt Fairy Tale, while it has a great beginning part leading to a lesser fantasy portion. I'd go with Hobb on this one and there are so many other much better King books.
Thanks for sharing, Terry! Are there any other Stephen King books you like that are more fantasy than horror (or than western)?
I much prefer The Eyes of the Dragon or the Dark Tower series.
🐲 Dan O'Donnell just mentioned The Eyes of the Dragon, too in his comment! Thanks, Terry.
Hmm, that’s a tough one J.Q. and not for any good reasons! 😁
I’m a constant reader and think that Fairy Tale is one of King’s weakest books. However, I also tried to read Assassins Apprentice and only got 100 pages in before putting it aside as it was just too cliched. So, yeah, I’m the wrong person to ask!
Just read The Dragonlance Chronicles again! 😆
😁LOL, Dan! I appreciate your honesty. I asked Terry in another comment what's a better Stephen King book that is heavy fantasy. I'll ask you the same!
For the cliches - is it more the style or the tropes in Assassin's Apprentice? I had a difficult time with The Dragonbone Chair for a similar reason.
Well, the only other fantasy books he has written are Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman. However, the latter is more horror/fantasy and the former is a children’s book. However, as much as it was maligned when it was published, I do enjoy Eyes of the Dragon
Me and you both with The Dragonbone Chair J.Q. I thought I was the only one! 😁
Yeah, the tropes are what get me. The fact I’ve read these types of stories so many times before means they have to have a special hook to pull me in. Neither Dragonbone Chair or Assassins Apprentice had that for me. Whereas, Name of the Wind, which I know a lot of people don’t like, did work for me 👍🏼
Ooh, I may have to take a peek at Eyes of the Dragon, then. And also The Talisman. I don't mind a bit of horror mixed in - I just usually prefer a heroic style - or at least some heroic end results. All grimdark isn't usually fun.
It's been a year since I finished The Dragonbone Chair, and funny enough, I've been tempted to pick up the 2nd book (which I already own) to see if it gets better.
LOVED Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. They were a couple of the books that drew me back into the world of fantasy as an adult. Can't believe they came out way back in 2007 and 2011!!! Where has the time (and the 3rd book in the trilogy) gone?
In case you haven't come across these, another fantasy trilogy I really loved at that same time was the Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham.
Yeah, I was wondering if that 3rd book will ever arrive, but seems the author has had a few personal issues to deal with so that’s probably why it’s taking longer
I’ll make sure and check that out that other trilogy as it looks good. Thanks for the recommendation J.Q. 👍🏼
I highly recommend Fairy Tale. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm going to read it again. I 'm not sure what to say without using spoilers. the majority of those who've read it, rate it very high;y and a keeper - myself included.
Awesome - thank you, David! (Also, thanks for not giving away any spoilers.) Some folks have mentioned they like other King novels way better, but I don't have any comparison to know the difference.
It is closer to straight-forward fantasy than horror. In that respect, it's different to most of King's other works. It's very good, but different.
Ok. That's what I was sensing (and hoping) when starting to see this book around. And then finding out King wrote it as a pet happiness project during the pandemic made me even more curious.