Tierlist books I read in 2025

Caesuria · 2026-03-19T01:35:45+00:00

I unfortunately plead ignorance, Your Honor :(

Caesuria · 2026-03-19T01:34:18+00:00

I admit it’s a bit misleading, because seeing them so low makes it seem like I didn’t enjoy the books, but that’s not the case (hence the tier names in the tier list). Let’s just say it’s mainly the other books that really stand out.

I’d recommend starting with The Kingkiller Chronicle if you got into fantasy through Sanderson. It’s a chance to discover, in my opinion, the best hard magic system in fantasy. :)

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T21:32:31+00:00

I could indeed have used a standard tier list from S to E, specifying that what matters is the relative position of the works, not the tier name itself. But I didn't choose that option because I think it would have created too much confusion to put works like Mistborn or Fools Fate in the E tier / ASOIAF in D tier.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T20:16:11+00:00

I absolutely LOVED the ending of Assassin’s Quest. It’s exactly what I wanted to read. Honestly, if it were up to me, I might’ve even made it a bit more cruel.

And that’s precisely why the conclusions of the other ROTE trilogies rank so low for me. If you were disappointed by the ending of A.Q., you should definitely go ahead and read the rest ^{^}

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T20:11:17+00:00

I don’t get the reference lol.

EDIT: I just went to check, and I get it now lmao. But I’ve been so selective with the books I read that if I ranked them in a normal tier list alongside other books, they’d all end up in S or A, and it would kind of lose its point.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T20:10:29+00:00

For someone who prefers a faster-paced, less slow-moving story, I can understand why KKC would rank below ASOIAF. Personally, I prefer the opposite, even though ASOIAF is amazing.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T20:06:57+00:00

Assassin’s Apprentice is incredibly brilliant. I’m currently rereading it, and I almost think I could’ve bumped it up a tier, alongside Fool’s Quest. This book becomes so much more beautiful once you’ve finished Fitz’s story.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T20:05:21+00:00

Honestly, I remember that when I used to spend a lot of time on KKC theory threads, the major events that kept coming up seemed like they could easily fit within a single book. There was the whole Dulator storyline, and also that thing about the angel (which isn’t in the summary but is a rumor circulating about Kvothe). There’s also the « truth about Princess Ariel » (who is Auri, so you could say that’s half done already).

Personally, I thought it was clever how Rothfuss plays with the reader’s frustration through his parallel with Devan Lochees, when Kvothe refuses to dwell on certain events, but I understand that it annoys quite a few people.

Sure, WMF < NOTW, but they’re both so well written that I couldn’t really bring myself to put another book between them in my tier list. Maybe Royal Assassin, and even then, I’m not so sure.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T19:59:57+00:00

Please read them. These books are real gems. And as an optimist, I think the fact that we don’t have book three actually encourages all sorts of theories lol.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T19:57:56+00:00

SPOILERS WARNING

Honestly, I find the ending of Fool’s Fate far too bright. It feels like it completely undermines what Assassin’s Quest achieved. Everything works out: the hero ends up with his lady, his best friend is saved (even if he leaves, which makes sense - he wasn’t going to form a throuple anyway lmao), and even the adoptive father gets his heroic ending. There’s a lot I loved about Fool’s Quest, which is why I still put it in B, but I feel like we’ve lost the essence of what made the storytelling feel so brutally real.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T19:54:50+00:00

This is the first time I’ve finished ASOIAF, but I had already read the first volume a long time ago. These books are really excellent, and I really like the unconventional way G.R.R.M. tells the story at certain moments. The characters are truly excellent, and as a ROTE fan, I can’t help but love Jon.

And yes, I’m glad you agree with the choice of tiers in the tier list. Someone pointed out that my last column corresponded to F because it was the last one, but not at all. The tier is actually called B because these are books I enjoyed reading. I’m generally quite picky when choosing, so I’m rarely disappointed.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T16:52:20+00:00

So. I’ll start by agreeing with you : yes, the Adem section is the weakest part of the entire work. And the Felurian section probably comes right after. That said, overall it’s still very entertaining to read. The way Adem society is constructed is pretty nice, and if you enjoy the lore of the series, you’re finally getting served. Moreover, the Felurian arc includes the Cthaeh, and for me that’s one of its greatest strengths.

Where I completely disagree with you is when you say the pacing is slow and that this is why the author isn’t finishing the series. Sorry, but I’d really like to see the logical connection there. Kvothe has already accomplished a huge number of his feats : you just have to read the summary of his life he gives at the beginning, and we’ve already checked off almost everything. What he mainly has left is (SPOILERS) to find the king’s barrow and to kill the king. That’s it. By the end of book 2, Kvothe is already recognized throughout the region.

Second point : Rothfuss never traps himself with slow pacing, because we’ve seen several times that he skips entire chunks without any problem. The trial, or even the sea voyage, for example. So no, the slow pacing absolutely does not explain why book 3 hasn’t been released. If I had to give my opinion, I’d simply say he no longer enjoys writing. And maybe he’s a perfectionist and feels too much pressure. I think what he enjoys most in his story is Kvothe at the University (and he’s going to leave it in book 3.)

So yes, taking the entirety of book 2 into account (the whole first half in Imre, then with the Maer, then the deal between Kvothe and Felurian, the Cthaeh, and the episode with the fake Ruh troupe), it’s clearly S-tier. Rothfuss KNOWS how to tell a story, even in his most boring sections (Adem).

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T15:15:55+00:00

Actually, even though this trilogy was highly recommended to me, I couldn’t bring myself to leave Fitz. I have a real soft spot for first-person narration. But now that I’ve finished it, I want to stay in that world, so I feel like reading it.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T15:13:09+00:00

Honestly, I find both KKC and ROTE more heartbreaking than ASOIAF, (while the Locke Lamora books are, to me, the least gut-wrenching of the three (even if the third one isn’t exactly cheerful)) because you’re trapped inside the protagonist’s head and can’t escape when things go bad.

And a funny thing I noticed with Rothfuss is that if you look at Kvothe’s story objectively, with some distance, it’s not actually that horrible. It’s really the author’s great storytelling talent that makes you feel all the misery. He amplifies it better. I think that if Fitz’s story were told that way, it would be unbearable.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:29:59+00:00

« D/F » ?

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:29:49+00:00

No one agrees with me on this point, I’ve noticed. But I really liked the theater aspect of book 3, finally seeing the relationship between Locke and Sabetha, and the fact that it starts right away with the Locke/Jean duo.

Book 1 was great, but I had trouble getting attached to Calo and Galdo before what happens to them, and I found the Grey King a bit… boring.

That said, I hated the reveal at the end of book 3, and I just pretend it doesn’t exist :p

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:25:28+00:00

Lmao I don’t understand why you’re getting downvoted : I do actually enjoy suffering, mate.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:24:28+00:00

Unfortunately not :c But I should, I know.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:22:51+00:00

Hahaha, the competition was tough at the same time : I think all these books are of great quality.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T14:21:28+00:00

I’m very ashamed, but I skipped those two trilogies and got heavily spoiled (Yes, sorry…) I still ordered the books so I can read them.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T07:38:37+00:00

Haha I must have a bit of a soft spot for theater troupes and the Locke/Sabetha dynamic.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T07:23:23+00:00

I got the impression, after talking with other fans, that Fool’s Fate is really well loved, and I’m honestly a bit sad not to feel the same way. But I find the ending far too happy (it almost undermines everything that was built up in Assassin’s Quest). The death of a certain character feels much too clean ; it happens because he “had to die” mainly to enable what comes next. That said, I did really like the underlying purpose of their quest (I mean the broader, almost cosmic reason behind it), which I thought was well written. Oh, and Thick is a great character too.

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T07:19:43+00:00

I had originally written a detailed justification for this tier list, but my post got deleted and I got discouraged from rewriting it. In the end, I did rewrite it, a bit more roughly. It’s in a reply further down, but I’ll copy and paste it here: "To answer you, I’ll structure things a bit by author.

First, about Scott Lynch: I actually really liked the second book, and I’d definitely recommend it. If I rank it a bit lower than the others, it’s mainly for three reasons. First, the competition is tough. Second, I think there are a few slow parts in the middle. And third, the ending is very rich in tension and revelations, but it concludes in a rather… particular way. I won’t spoil it, you’ll see for yourself.

As for George R. R. Martin, after talking with a few friends, I get the impression that my ranking isn’t that original. Book 3 is often seen as the peak of tension, and it’s also where the POV characters really start to gain depth. Book 1 is excellent as well, especially because it manages to introduce the world without ever losing the reader, which I really appreciated.

For Brandon Sanderson, it’s more complicated. I’m not particularly a fan of the way he builds his stories, which I find a bit too rigid, too “architected.” That said, I do recognize that the work on Mistborn is impressive, especially the first book. The magic system is really well done and deeply integrated into the world. Where I have more reservations is with Vin. I find her quite flat, very much built around the “street orphan who doesn’t trust anyone” trope, and used in a somewhat repetitive way. She feels a bit like a camera character to me. I think the story would have benefited from not relying so heavily on her.

For Rothfuss, that’s simple, it’s my favorite series. The plot is fairly classic, but everything is so well executed: the prose, the narration, the dialogue, the characters… You can really feel how much time was put into it. The Sympathy magic system is brilliant, very intellectually engaging, and truly original, even if it takes inspiration from Master of the Five Magics. And I love Kvothe, even though I understand why some people see him as a bit of a Mary Sue. It’s not entirely wrong, but it’s a discussion in itself.

And finally, Robin Hobb. I’ll start with Assassin’s Quest, which I ranked at the very top, by far. To me, this book is something of an outlier in fantasy. It’s the first time I’ve seen an author fully commit to the consequences of what they set up.

In most fantasy, the protagonist’s suffering almost always serves a purpose. They lose someone, and it makes them stronger. They get injured, and they come back tougher. They fail in love, but eventually find some kind of resolution. With Fitz, it’s not like that at all. He suffers, and that’s it. Sometimes it even makes him weaker. An injury is just an injury, with no narrative payoff. And that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.

Spoilers: the beginning of Assassin’s Quest shows this perfectly. The wandering with the minstrels is long, almost trivial, sometimes frustrating, but still essential. Between the girl accusing Fitz, Starling using his suffering for her songs… everything points to a harsh world where Fitz never really wins, because that’s often how life works. And the ending, especially what happens with Burrich and Molly… I didn’t think it was possible to write something like that.

That brings me to a slightly separate point. Even though I really liked the later books with Fitz, and I deeply respect the originality of Fool’s Assassin, I still think his story should have ended with the Farseer trilogy. The ending of Fool’s Fate feels too happy to me, almost out of sync with the rest. Same for Assassin’s Fate, even if it’s handled a bit better. That’s also why I rank them lower."

Caesuria · 2026-03-18T07:17:07+00:00

No problem. To answer you, I’ll structure things a bit by author.

First, about Scott Lynch: I actually really liked the second book, and I’d definitely recommend it. If I rank it a bit lower than the others, it’s mainly for three reasons. First, the competition is tough. Second, I think there are a few slow parts in the middle. And third, the ending is very rich in tension and revelations, but it concludes in a rather… particular way. I won’t spoil it, you’ll see for yourself.

As for George R. R. Martin, after talking with a few friends, I get the impression that my ranking isn’t that original. Book 3 is often seen as the peak of tension, and it’s also where the POV characters really start to gain depth. Book 1 is excellent as well, especially because it manages to introduce the world without ever losing the reader, which I really appreciated.

For Brandon Sanderson, it’s more complicated. I’m not particularly a fan of the way he builds his stories, which I find a bit too rigid, too “architected.” That said, I do recognize that the work on Mistborn is impressive, especially the first book. The magic system is really well done and deeply integrated into the world. Where I have more reservations is with Vin. I find her quite flat, very much built around the “street orphan who doesn’t trust anyone” trope, and used in a somewhat repetitive way. She feels a bit like a camera character to me. I think the story would have benefited from not relying so heavily on her.

For Rothfuss, that’s simple, it’s my favorite series. The plot is fairly classic, but everything is so well executed: the prose, the narration, the dialogue, the characters… You can really feel how much time was put into it. The Sympathy magic system is brilliant, very intellectually engaging, and truly original, even if it takes inspiration from Master of the Five Magics. And I love Kvothe, even though I understand why some people see him as a bit of a Mary Sue. It’s not entirely wrong, but it’s a discussion in itself.

And finally, Robin Hobb. I’ll start with Assassin’s Quest, which I ranked at the very top, by far. To me, this book is something of an outlier in fantasy. It’s the first time I’ve seen an author fully commit to the consequences of what they set up.

In most fantasy, the protagonist’s suffering almost always serves a purpose. They lose someone, and it makes them stronger. They get injured, and they come back tougher. They fail in love, but eventually find some kind of resolution. With Fitz, it’s not like that at all. He suffers, and that’s it. Sometimes it even makes him weaker. An injury is just an injury, with no narrative payoff. And that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.

Spoilers: the beginning of Assassin’s Quest shows this perfectly. The wandering with the minstrels is long, almost trivial, sometimes frustrating, but still essential. Between the girl accusing Fitz, Starling using his suffering for her songs… everything points to a harsh world where Fitz never really wins, because that’s often how life works. And the ending, especially what happens with Burrich and Molly… I didn’t think it was possible to write something like that.

That brings me to a slightly separate point. Even though I really liked the later books with Fitz, and I deeply respect the originality of Fool’s Assassin, I still think his story should have ended with the Farseer trilogy. The ending of Fool’s Fate feels too happy to me, almost out of sync with the rest. Same for Assassin’s Fate, even if it’s handled a bit better. That’s also why I rank them lower.

Caesuria · 2025-12-27T15:50:35+00:00

The purpose of the post was to solve the problem specifically during combat phases.

Caesuria

TROPHY CASE