I read Gardens of the Moon and actually loved it, but just hated Deadhouse Gates. Tried to get into Memories of Ice, the third book, but just decided the series wasn't for me. So many people love Malazan though, I'm doomed to never understand why!
I’m making a prediction right now. If you read them next year, you’re top 2 worst books of 2025 will probably be Star Wars Children of the Jedi and Planet of Twilight. 😂
I knew from your review that the Mace Windu is (sadly) gonna be on your List. Because of all the reviews I saw I think I‘m gonna pass on this book even though I was excited for it because Mace Windu is great character and we’ve never gotten a Canon book for him before. Great video, Jonathan!
It seems like readers either love the Malazan series or don't like it. It really has me curious, I have the series in my collection, but haven't decided if I want to tackle it any time soon or not.
Aww I'm really sorry to hear that Vonda McIntyre blew it on her attempt to write a Star Wars novel. I usually really like her writing. I read a bunch of her Star Trek novels this summer for the Summer of Trek readathon, and I thought she was terrific. Well, I guess it's like you said about Grisham: even a terrific writer can write a clunker every now and then. One of the things I admire about you, Jonathan, is that you are always polite and fair-minded, and you have read so much and so widely that you clearly know what works and what doesn't, so when you really don't like a book, I always know that you are not making a hasty or unfounded judgment. Very thoughtful presentation, as always.
@@jonathankoan absolutely. I feel the same way. That's one of the many things that is very refreshing about your channel. When you don't like a book, you have very clear and measured reasons. You never just go on a rant, and you also are always very quick to say what an author does well either in the book that you didn't like or in their other books. You have a lot of credibility because you have read so much, and you can make intelligent, well-informed comparisons. It's a pleasure to watch your reviews, whether you are talking about books that you loved or books that didn't really resonate with you.
I completely understand why The Crystal Star is so high on your list, but I will say I preferred it to Children of the Jedi, which is my worst EU reading experience. Good point about the Jedi twins which is definitely the most enjoyable plot line in the book.
The worst book I read, I borrowed from my local library, Star Wars: The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster. It just felt so slow and I figured out what was going to happen at the end of it, when I was half way done with it. But I am glad that I read through it, that is the only positive thing I'm going to say about it.
I'm sorry to hear you didn't like Malazan; by not reading it, you're going to miss some of the best characters ever written in fantasy. May I suggest an idea? Book 4 starts with what can be called a novella and introduces one of the best characters in the series; you can read that first part as a standalone. Maybe you could give it a try. It would be a shame if you archive the series without tasting some of the best of it.
You DIDN'T like the Phantom Menace novelization? I've never read any other Terry Brooks book, and I really liked it. I hope that means I will enjoy his other books a lot more :)
I can’t believe you did not like Malazan! It is very different than the stuff you normally read though so I guess I can see it not hitting for you. Shame, IMO it is the best fantasy series ever written!
The only book I’ve read from your list is Deadhouse Gates and I completely agree with you it felt like the most miserable experience (I lol’d when during your video you said you wouldn’t continue the series and about that point the DG book fell flat on its face)
I found it hilarious that you used logic and Star Wars in your assessment. What in Star Wars fits any form of logic? Characters in Star Wars movies and series are always making weird decisions and stories go along in absurdly funny directions at time. The more Star Wars books, movies and TV series come out the more bizarro the Star Wars universe becomes. Even if you just look at the movies how does any decision they made in the last three films about any of the legacy characters make sense? The only ones remotely themselves are Chewy, R2D2 and 3CP0. Not to mention that the way and nature of the Force in the last three films perverts most of what went before. In any case, logic and Star Wars do not compute. The whole universe is nonsensical and illogical. It can be fun at times but never logical.
Sometimes illogical things happen in Star Wars, but when crafting media tie-in fiction, there are generally rules you want to follow in the business and unfortunately the Star Wars books I talked about didn’t really follow those rules.
I read Gardens of the Moon and actually loved it, but just hated Deadhouse Gates. Tried to get into Memories of Ice, the third book, but just decided the series wasn't for me. So many people love Malazan though, I'm doomed to never understand why!
I’m making a prediction right now. If you read them next year, you’re top 2 worst books of 2025 will probably be Star Wars Children of the Jedi and Planet of Twilight. 😂
I knew from your review that the Mace Windu is (sadly) gonna be on your List. Because of all the reviews I saw I think I‘m gonna pass on this book even though I was excited for it because Mace Windu is great character and we’ve never gotten a Canon book for him before. Great video, Jonathan!
It seems like readers either love the Malazan series or don't like it. It really has me curious, I have the series in my collection, but haven't decided if I want to tackle it any time soon or not.
Aww I'm really sorry to hear that Vonda McIntyre blew it on her attempt to write a Star Wars novel. I usually really like her writing. I read a bunch of her Star Trek novels this summer for the Summer of Trek readathon, and I thought she was terrific. Well, I guess it's like you said about Grisham: even a terrific writer can write a clunker every now and then. One of the things I admire about you, Jonathan, is that you are always polite and fair-minded, and you have read so much and so widely that you clearly know what works and what doesn't, so when you really don't like a book, I always know that you are not making a hasty or unfounded judgment. Very thoughtful presentation, as always.
Thank you Pat! My philosophy has always been that even an author who wrote a book I don’t like still should have respect,
@@jonathankoan absolutely. I feel the same way. That's one of the many things that is very refreshing about your channel. When you don't like a book, you have very clear and measured reasons. You never just go on a rant, and you also are always very quick to say what an author does well either in the book that you didn't like or in their other books. You have a lot of credibility because you have read so much, and you can make intelligent, well-informed comparisons. It's a pleasure to watch your reviews, whether you are talking about books that you loved or books that didn't really resonate with you.
I completely understand why The Crystal Star is so high on your list, but I will say I preferred it to Children of the Jedi, which is my worst EU reading experience. Good point about the Jedi twins which is definitely the most enjoyable plot line in the book.
The worst book I read, I borrowed from my local library, Star Wars: The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster. It just felt so slow and I figured out what was going to happen at the end of it, when I was half way done with it. But I am glad that I read through it, that is the only positive thing I'm going to say about it.
I'm sorry to hear you didn't like Malazan; by not reading it, you're going to miss some of the best characters ever written in fantasy. May I suggest an idea? Book 4 starts with what can be called a novella and introduces one of the best characters in the series; you can read that first part as a standalone. Maybe you could give it a try. It would be a shame if you archive the series without tasting some of the best of it.
I never tire of hearing WELL OF SOULS get roasted. One of the most disappointing Trek books ever.
I also hate Malazan, but it's funny AF seeing it on the same list as a book with Waru
Now i have to read the crystal star
Update: Just bought it. Ready to torture myself.
Oh boy. Wish you well.
I like Malazan, but it is too big of a commitment if you dont really like it. The books only exponentially get bigger.😂😂😂
You DIDN'T like the Phantom Menace novelization? I've never read any other Terry Brooks book, and I really liked it. I hope that means I will enjoy his other books a lot more :)
Based!
I can’t believe you did not like Malazan! It is very different than the stuff you normally read though so I guess I can see it not hitting for you. Shame, IMO it is the best fantasy series ever written!
life, the universe and everything was a doctor who script that was rejected that adams retooled into an hitchhikers book.
That would make sense.
The only book I’ve read from your list is Deadhouse Gates and I completely agree with you it felt like the most miserable experience (I lol’d when during your video you said you wouldn’t continue the series and about that point the DG book fell flat on its face)
I’ll make sure not to read any of these.
I found it hilarious that you used logic and Star Wars in your assessment. What in Star Wars fits any form of logic? Characters in Star Wars movies and series are always making weird decisions and stories go along in absurdly funny directions at time. The more Star Wars books, movies and TV series come out the more bizarro the Star Wars universe becomes. Even if you just look at the movies how does any decision they made in the last three films about any of the legacy characters make sense? The only ones remotely themselves are Chewy, R2D2 and 3CP0. Not to mention that the way and nature of the Force in the last three films perverts most of what went before. In any case, logic and Star Wars do not compute. The whole universe is nonsensical and illogical. It can be fun at times but never logical.
Sometimes illogical things happen in Star Wars, but when crafting media tie-in fiction, there are generally rules you want to follow in the business and unfortunately the Star Wars books I talked about didn’t really follow those rules.