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Comment by m463 | Hacker News Reader

I did sort of like Game of Thrones. Yes, at some point not-formulaic became it's own sort of formula but I did enjoy the series.

Actually, there was that one section where it seemed like the budget for special effects got a boost and from that point onward they displaced a lot of plot.

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Game of Thrones spiraled downhill due to a lack of source material in the last few seasons.

I'm not sure what your experience with the books are but, as someone who's read a _ton_ on fantasy novels GoT is pretty boring and mundane. I can see where people do get excited about it but I can find a good 10 or 20 high fantasy novels that do everything that GoT does.

GRRM has style, and seems super original if you haven't read a ton of the genre.

I have a hard finding new fantasy books these days, because the synopsis are so boring. It usually goes "Yada yada presentation but bigger picture (usually about how the fate of the world is at stake and only the hero can save it)".

It's fine, that's what I expect from a fantasy book, but what's missing is what's your USP, why should I read your book instead of the countless others. Why did you write the damn book? It's a pretty big ordeal, so surely the author it could bring something different. They just seem to fail at expressing what.

I'm curious to hear your list. I've read a lot of fantasy and IMO the vast majority of it is poorly written schlock. GRRM stands out to me because he can actually write fairly well (though the quality has slipped a bit in the last couple books).

What I recall liking that I read recently was anything by brent weeks (though lightbringer book 5 was a little long), and the chalion series by lois mcmaster bujold.

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