January 2026
    M T W T F S S
     1234
    567891011
    12131415161718
    19202122232425
    262728293031  

    Hey all,

    I’m getting back into reading for the first time in years and could use some guidance.

    I’m about halfway through Dark Age (book 5 of Red Rising). I absolutely loved the first trilogy, tore through those. I still like the later books, but I haven’t been quite as engaged, and Dark Age in particular has been a slower read for me.

    I got a Kindle for Christmas, so I’m trying to figure out what to line up next.

    A few other things I’ve tried recently:

    • Dungeon Crawler Carl: really enjoying it, but honestly I think it works way better for me as an audiobook than reading.
    
    • The Sword of Kaigen: I gave it a shot, but it felt like a lot all at once, and I’m not sure it’s for me right now.
    

    I’m open to fantasy or sci-fi. I really like strong character writing, fast-paced momentum, and stuff that pulls you along (part of why early Red Rising worked so well). Doesn’t have to be super “literary,” just engaging.

    by Aggressive-Mirror538

    1 Comment

    1. You might enjoy The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie, starting with The Blade Itself. Though personally I think the audiobooks are the best way to read that series. Dark, gritty, character-driven fantasy, with a lot of dark humor and cynical wit. Endlessly quotable, violent, filled with tons of highly-flawed and intriguing characters you’ll come to love.

      His latest book, The Devils, was pretty fun too, and is a standalone, if you’d like something that isn’t part of a big series. It’s got all the great characters you’d expect from Abercrombie, but leans a bit more heavily into the comedy/humor side of things than his other series.

      Also, Dark Age is heavy as hell, but if you’re enjoying the series at all I wouldn’t give up on it until you’ve read Light Bringer, the final book that’s currently out. To me it felt like things picked up a lot after Dark Age, though the series does continue to be quite dark and heavy overall.

    Leave A Reply