Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As a voracious reader of fantasy, I've read just about every series out there. The Sword of Truth series, the Kingkiller Chronicles, the Codex Alera series, and The Stormlight Archive just to name a few. What usually bothers me is is just how straightforward the story arch can be. The good guy is miraculously good, discovers incredible powers, fights against bad guy (who is nothing but evil), and succeeds at the very last moment. Sometimes characters are intended to seem intelligent yet they succeed almost purely on luck. In some series the plot will be varied and fascinating, but the writing style will be so verbose you find yourself sloggin through pages and pages to get to the next big thing. Then the story becomes an excercise in waiting for something you know is going to happen. Brent Weeks' writing style, however, is none of that. To me the most interesting thing about Brent Weeks is not the twisting and turning of the plot. It's the careful attention he gives to the pacing. He'll cut away from a certain character, leaving you desperately wondering what happens next, but then move into something else completely fascinating and new. You'll forget for a moment how desperate you are to see the next big event. Instead the new perspective is always a perfect compliment, enhancing clarity and furthering the plot in ways that the main story arch could never provide. Even if you do get bored, it wont be for long. There's always something crucial to be seen or learned just a few pages away. If you like complex world-building that's beautifully creative and easy to understand... If you like a fast-paced storyline yet appreciate character development... If you like to see evil and good and everything in between all mixed together... If you like characters who act as intelligently or stupidly as their personality demands... If you like social commentary through a diverse cast who each believe in their own principles... If you like a plot that moves forward by more than the characters' need to not die or not let the bad guy win... If you like a story that has no clear endgame... If you like good writing that doesn't bog the story down by being overly styled or descriptive... This is the series for you.