Truly can't say I am surprised that you DNFed The Gunslinger hahah. I have given up on that series as well, it is just not the story that brings me joy to read and that is fine! Also, I am glad to hear you enjoyed the other two, even if you had some quibbles. I think you are going to adore Blood Reunion, Joe is absolutely on top of his game in that one! Cheers to you and Brian 🤩
Don't give up on TBATB Tori, the first book is a bit slow & tropey but it is a debut novel after all. Try the Fall & of Darkness & Light & if you're not hooked by then..Personallyt I devoured the series so far in 2 months & love it, for me Ryans writing gives me a John Gwynne vibe & JG is one of the GOATs!
I appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into your reviews. The only Stephen King book I have read is The Stand probably 40 years ago. His writing in that book was so visual to me that I can still 'see' those scenes in my head. I don't like horror, because my brain just won't let go of it, so I haven't read anything else by him. I can see why people love his writing.
Thanks so much for watching! I've heard that The Stand is a trip, I don't blame you for setting his work down after that. I'm not a big fan of horror either, I like a little dose of it in my fantasy books.
Right with you on turning to fantasy for the purpose of escaping our current reality. I get that’s that’s not the case for many readers but I personally really get it. I’d be reading lots of contemporary lit fic and nonfiction if that’s what I wanted to engage with. Or **shudder** watch the news 😅
I really enjoyed The Gunslinger, but yeah, I had to skim that part. It does go away eventually, but it did tank my enjoyment a lot. But I’ve only read 2 King books so far, and I found that both of them have completely unnecessary chapters of unfortunate adult content, so… I don’t know how much more of his I’ll read. Probably try to continue with The Dark Tower, but I just don’t know yet. Haven’t read either of these other 2 yet, so I can’t say much about them, but I hope you enjoy them. 👍🏼 -T
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be continuing with The Bound and the Broken. Of Blood and Fire was Ryan’s debut novel and he’s openly said about wanting to give a nod to all the series that had influenced him. The rest of the series (including the other novellas) are all his own thing and in my opinion worth a read. I’m looking forward to the next book. I did have the same experience with The Return of the Griffin though. It was an enjoyable read at least.
I may give book 2 a shot someday, and I'm always totally fine with authors giving nods to their influences. Subjectively, I found that this was pretty heavily influenced and took me out of the immersion a bit. I'm so glad that you've enjoyed the series!
The Gunslinger is easily the weakest DT book, but that opening line is one of the best ever written. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."
JCM Berne's really making the rounds. Finally, someone with a different take on Ryan Cahill. I haven't read that series but now it feels less like I'm on the bad end of a marketing blitz, ha.
I read the first novel and novella of Bound & Broken last year after a horrendous reading slump (so I was more forgiving than I usually am) but I DNFed the 2nd book earlier this year. As an Irishman myself I wanted to support Cahill but I don't get the hype.
@@thatsci-firogue I get that. I have to be in a very specific mood to read and enjoy books doing what Bound and Broken's apparently doing, given it sounds like it's trying to channel that classic epic fantasy vibe.
It wasn't my cup of tea, but I know a lot of people who have read and loved it. And in Cahill's defense, many of the tropes he uses I'm not a fan of in general.
Tori I’ve read eight Steven King books at this point and they range from meh to good for me, but especially in Dark Tower, Kings weird sex stuff really knocks it down SEVERAL pegs for me. (It’s worse in later books. There’s a scene in book three that’s almost inexcusable for me). I get it sex is an important part of some books (like Feast for Crows) but for DT it makes it so much worse…not better.
Thanks for letting me help you get through the books! We laughed, we cried, you unhauled in stride.
You're a gem, Brian! Thank you so much for participating! :D
Truly can't say I am surprised that you DNFed The Gunslinger hahah. I have given up on that series as well, it is just not the story that brings me joy to read and that is fine!
Also, I am glad to hear you enjoyed the other two, even if you had some quibbles. I think you are going to adore Blood Reunion, Joe is absolutely on top of his game in that one! Cheers to you and Brian 🤩
Can't wait for Rohan book 3! That's going to be fun. I knew going into it that DT probably wasn't going to be for me, so it's not a great loss.
Don't give up on TBATB Tori, the first book is a bit slow & tropey but it is a debut novel after all. Try the Fall & of Darkness & Light & if you're not hooked by then..Personallyt I devoured the series so far in 2 months & love it, for me Ryans writing gives me a John Gwynne vibe & JG is one of the GOATs!
I probably will try the second book at some point down the road!
I appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into your reviews. The only Stephen King book I have read is The Stand probably 40 years ago. His writing in that book was so visual to me that I can still 'see' those scenes in my head. I don't like horror, because my brain just won't let go of it, so I haven't read anything else by him. I can see why people love his writing.
Thanks so much for watching! I've heard that The Stand is a trip, I don't blame you for setting his work down after that. I'm not a big fan of horror either, I like a little dose of it in my fantasy books.
Assigned TBRs are always fun.
I agree! I've really enjoyed them as a way to shake up the TBR a bit!
Love TBR takeover
Me too!
The collab I never knew I needed!
This was so much fun! I love the vlog format 😋
The deck looks awesome by the way!
Thanks so much, Zammar! I love it too. The TBR Takeovers have been a blast so far :D
Right with you on turning to fantasy for the purpose of escaping our current reality. I get that’s that’s not the case for many readers but I personally really get it. I’d be reading lots of contemporary lit fic and nonfiction if that’s what I wanted to engage with. Or **shudder** watch the news 😅
Exactly! Lol. I prefer a more subtle and timeless exploration of humanity. 😂
Great vlog!! 😊🎉
Thank you!! 😊
So excited for the first book 😱 I just read it and died… that’s how good it was 🥰 it’s sooo weird 🤣 (just 2 min into the video… let’s see 🤣)
lol 🤣 5 min later (how do you spell the whoomp whoomp sound 🤣). I’m so sorry it didn’t work for you.
HAHA I heard you really enjoyed this one XD Sorry to disappoint!
@@ToriTalks2 not disappointed at all. Everybody enjoys books differently 😊 at least, now you know 🤣
I really enjoyed The Gunslinger, but yeah, I had to skim that part. It does go away eventually, but it did tank my enjoyment a lot. But I’ve only read 2 King books so far, and I found that both of them have completely unnecessary chapters of unfortunate adult content, so… I don’t know how much more of his I’ll read. Probably try to continue with The Dark Tower, but I just don’t know yet.
Haven’t read either of these other 2 yet, so I can’t say much about them, but I hope you enjoy them. 👍🏼
-T
That's what I've heard as well, so I'm going into King very cautiously. XD
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be continuing with The Bound and the Broken. Of Blood and Fire was Ryan’s debut novel and he’s openly said about wanting to give a nod to all the series that had influenced him. The rest of the series (including the other novellas) are all his own thing and in my opinion worth a read. I’m looking forward to the next book.
I did have the same experience with The Return of the Griffin though. It was an enjoyable read at least.
I may give book 2 a shot someday, and I'm always totally fine with authors giving nods to their influences. Subjectively, I found that this was pretty heavily influenced and took me out of the immersion a bit. I'm so glad that you've enjoyed the series!
The Gunslinger is easily the weakest DT book, but that opening line is one of the best ever written. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."
It’s so good!!!
JCM Berne's really making the rounds. Finally, someone with a different take on Ryan Cahill. I haven't read that series but now it feels less like I'm on the bad end of a marketing blitz, ha.
I read the first novel and novella of Bound & Broken last year after a horrendous reading slump (so I was more forgiving than I usually am) but I DNFed the 2nd book earlier this year. As an Irishman myself I wanted to support Cahill but I don't get the hype.
@@thatsci-firogue I get that. I have to be in a very specific mood to read and enjoy books doing what Bound and Broken's apparently doing, given it sounds like it's trying to channel that classic epic fantasy vibe.
It wasn't my cup of tea, but I know a lot of people who have read and loved it. And in Cahill's defense, many of the tropes he uses I'm not a fan of in general.
Minnesotans unite!
So not a reading slump, but maybe a weather slump?
Exactly!
Tori I’ve read eight Steven King books at this point and they range from meh to good for me, but especially in Dark Tower, Kings weird sex stuff really knocks it down SEVERAL pegs for me. (It’s worse in later books. There’s a scene in book three that’s almost inexcusable for me).
I get it sex is an important part of some books (like Feast for Crows) but for DT it makes it so much worse…not better.
Good to know, thank you for sharing! Anything I read from King will be approached with caution, lol.
THE GUNSLINGER!!!!!🔥🔥🔥 (There's some content I don't care for but i skimmed those parts.)
Oh no!!! I just saw what you did with it. 😭
🦞🦞🦞
SORRY PENNY XD