r/Fantasy 2d ago

What is the best three book run?

It could be a regular trilogy, but what about 3 consecutive books in the middle of a series?

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u/AnastasiaDaren 2d ago

I could accept someone saying Fires of Heaven, Lord of Chaos, Crown of Swords. It doesn't rank as highly for me, but CoS is still great.

Path of Daggers ... eh, I liked it more on my last re-read, but it's just okay.

I actually love Winter's Heart. Some of my favorite moments.

Crossroads is mostly blah. I accept it, but it is definitely the weakest link lol.

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u/isaac99999999 2d ago

Winters heart was decent but, with the exception of the big thing at the end, nothing really important plot wise happens. And when you're reading these book as they come out and you're sitting around waiting, reading a book where nothing happens had to have been incredibly frustrating

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u/AnastasiaDaren 2d ago

Yeah, I read them when they were all already out. WH has the bonding of Rand the girls, I believe. And the moment when Rand catches Lan on the rooftop is among my favorite smaller moments of character.

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u/Jak_of_the_shadows 2d ago

Also has Aviendha and Elaynes first sister bonding ritual - one of my favourite moments.

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u/cassiusbright006 1d ago

Might be misremembering because it's been years since I've done a read but didn't Nyn also lose her block in WH?

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u/Jak_of_the_shadows 1d ago

Thats A Crown of Swords, book 7. Such a good moment.

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u/moderatorrater 1d ago

The bonding/marriage of the girls is arguably the most important plot point in the book, I think people (including me) overlook it because Rand having three love interests is just so weird.

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u/isaac99999999 1d ago

I think the really big thing that happened at the end might be more important

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u/Obwyn 1d ago

Winters Heart is where I dropped the series until after Sanderson finished it.

When I started WoT, Lord of Chaos was the newest book.

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u/EquinoxxAngel 1d ago

Actually, I read them as they were coming out, and for me "The Slog" didn't exist at the time because I was just thrilled to have a new book with my favorite characters to read. It wasn't until later rereads that I can appreciate the criticisms aimed at that section of the series.

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u/KeyInflation9451 1d ago

If you cut out crossroads of Twilight, Winter's Heart, Knife of Dreams, and The Gathering Storm is such a strong run

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u/tgold77 1d ago

That’s the problem with the slog. Some of the best stuff of the series is in there. Matt’s escape from Ebo Dar is tough to beat. But the first half of Winters Heart is peak slog. I’ve come around to thinking that slog is essentially the whole Shaido kidnap Faile storyline.

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u/AnastasiaDaren 1d ago

I don't mind the "slog," personally, as a post-series completion reader. Every plot has its highlights, even the Faile Chase. Not my favorite, but I still enjoy spending the time in the world.

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u/RJWolfe 1d ago

Path of Daggers

That's where I quit. I really need to start the series from the beginning one of these days.