Hey, hi, your positive opinion of something doesn't need to include shitting on things other people like. You can just like Tolkien and that can be the conversation.

I just read the first Stormlight book and thought it was a great read, definitely more of a beach read fantasy especially compared to Tolkien but a well put together story at the very least. I see where you're coming from though.

Do you have suggestions for other fantasy that you feel compares to Tolkien and doesn't remind you of a dirty rural parking lot?

Blandon Blanderson? Kidding.

He's a great storyteller and a good-but-not-great writer. He excels in slow-burns with big payoffs. He hasn't written any page-turners but the stories are very sturdy, well-considered, and rewarding.

His worlds are realistic in a sense because they aren't full of whimsy and they're not very inviting. But that's what makes them feel real.

The characters aren't 3 dimensional but they're not flat either. I'd call them 2-dimensional in that they have flaws and a growth arc, but not a ton of complexity beyond that.

The dialogue and his ability to describe fights/battle tactics/magic physics are a place where he shines.

Personally, I probably won't read any of his other books unless someone tells me he has written something entirely fresh and different than his other works. But I'm still very glad to have read a few of his works. They definitely set a new bar for creative magic systems. His magic systems are phenomenal.

Hmm, i’m planning on reading The Stormlight Archive soon, but I just read all of the 7 Mistborn books recently and thought they were great! Love how the “magic” system is being developed, and the ties to the overall Cosmere. Not sure if TSA is a step down from that or what, guess I’ll find out.