Merphy: "My number one series is no surprise to anyone at all." Me: *Grabs my copy of TLOLL* Merphy: "The chronicles of Narnia" ... I have never felt more confused and betrayed and relieved in 2 seconds.
@jackinthebox19934 жыл бұрын
I swear to God... 😅
@norsekingcole4 жыл бұрын
Merph and Daniel throw SO much shade at c.s. its unreal
@Deni-mt9bj4 жыл бұрын
Cole Mallette does she have video about Narnia?
@norsekingcole4 жыл бұрын
Merph we need that Narnia video ! Please include "the Screwtape Letters 🥴
@the_corvid974 жыл бұрын
@Billyfighter69 Narnia is very not subtle with allegory, which a lot of people are not fans of, especially booktubers.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
"About half of my favorite magic systems aren't on my favorite series list. That's interesting." And that, my fellow writers, is the perfect example of how your best magic system does not necessarily make the best book ever.
@robertdullnig36254 жыл бұрын
Agree. I would say the magic system in Mistborn for example is maybe the fourth or fifth best thing about the book.
@Rowan_A_Boat4 жыл бұрын
I don't care, it's my baby!
@Wild-Coma3 жыл бұрын
Aragon is my all time fav for it's magic system. I loved it so fuckin much
@adrianbundy32493 жыл бұрын
@@Wild-Coma I'm assuming you mean Eragon. And for that, I would agree. Nowdays, I would put that under the magic system in WoT, but still above other common choices like Mistborn's.
@kakerake60183 жыл бұрын
What if the book is a description of my super awesome magic system?
@mattkrause15734 жыл бұрын
"Listen, just let people like things." -Merphy Napier
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
“Don’t choke on your aspirations” -Anakin Skywalker
@danelmore65533 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm I am confused by using a quote which is probably one of the most perfect examples of irony in all of fiction. Are you implying that her statement was ironical?
@Morfeusm3 жыл бұрын
@@danelmore6553 no, I was just poking fun at OP for fishing Merphys heart/like/comment like that but nothing wrong with that I just thought it funny using Star Wars quote on a guy who obviously knows Star Wars judging by the avatar picture. See now you made me feel bad about making fun of them. 😂
@danelmore65533 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm Ahh, I see. Well don't feel bad. Its the internet, so anything more sophisticated than calling someone names is better than average.
@babbisp12 ай бұрын
Quote at 6:00
@MrMerlin18964 жыл бұрын
Merphy: "And I'm non-confrontational so i didn't fight back." Same, Merphy, same
@erindahlvig4 жыл бұрын
I came looking for this comment, because I’m right there with you.
@kevingraham47364 жыл бұрын
confrontation requires effort *slacks on couch*
@noraeld50203 жыл бұрын
Avoiders unite
@babbisp12 ай бұрын
Quote at 13:48
@rishabhdave57734 жыл бұрын
People who skipped to the end immediately will be getting very confused.
@am37034 жыл бұрын
They fell for the classic blunder
@terroristsnakecat48303 жыл бұрын
@@am3703 mate in 3, a classic opening trap
@brooksboy784 жыл бұрын
I mean by that logic any classic ever can be written off as "not being suitable to modern readers." There is a reason LOTR was and still is one of the most popular books of all time, and it's because it is great.
@crazymaner20034 жыл бұрын
LOTR was old fashioned when it was written as many critics pointed out (and scorned it for) at the time. That was the point. Tolkien hated modernity and the industrialisation of civilisation. He wanted to create a mythology for England set in its prehistory. He excluded words created after a certain time to add to its verisimilitude. This was all very deliberate by Tolkien and it's a huge part of what makes LOTR timeless.
@15nicinho4 жыл бұрын
crazymaner2003 well said
@christianbjorck8164 жыл бұрын
Yup. Same as Narnia.
@jogailejurkonyte47463 жыл бұрын
here have a poor mans version of a KZfaq plack: 🏅 You just reached 100 likes!
@lindsaymorrison75194 жыл бұрын
"But I'm nonconfrontational, so I didn't send them back!" I felt that in my soul.
@tuopsy3 жыл бұрын
that’s why i never return things i buy online. even if it means wasting tons of money 😞
@UzairKhan-pr8mv4 жыл бұрын
The best part of the video was when Merphy said: "I am not a mega fan of WOT like some people" * and inserts daniel's photo*😂🤩
@ronitaryan54023 жыл бұрын
lmaoo, yes
@books_and_waistcoats71543 жыл бұрын
Was perfect
@Articulatekarein3 жыл бұрын
Yeah man same here😂😂
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
I read an article about mental health rep in The Stormlight Archive and I saw the best pitch for the series that anyone has ever come up with, in my opinion: "Broken people save the world."
@merphynapier424 жыл бұрын
I love that
@aximeycu86304 жыл бұрын
That’s how I’m going to describe it next time I recommend it!! Thanks
@MrScrawnjuan3 жыл бұрын
@Maester Gryphon After all, who has a better story than Bran
@psychicsocial4 жыл бұрын
Murphy: My number one pick should be a surprise to no one... Me: Oh I know this, The Gentleman Bas-- Murphy: The Chronicles of Narnia Me: Wait, what the hell? Murphy: Just kidding it's The Gentleman Bastards >< You really me going for 0.5 seconds there!
@smilingtiger.59933 жыл бұрын
Why . Narnia is Awesome.
@Gon_Din4 жыл бұрын
Merphy: "My number one series is no surprise to anyone" Me: Gentleman's bastards Merphy: "Chronicles of Narnia" Me: *heart attack* Merphy: sike Me: phew
@Morfeusm3 жыл бұрын
How is life after heart attack going?
@Raltie3 жыл бұрын
People like that series?
@Morfeusm3 жыл бұрын
@@Raltie Gentleman Bastards? It’s not bad, but I have love hate relationship with it honestly. Murph loves it though...
@Raltie3 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm yeah? Glad it wasn't just me. I found that first book super jarring. **SPOILERS** The whole crew dying then he spends this weird section of the book talking about the life of a mundane book keeper at a bank. It threw me out the immersion. Then book two goes from setting up a card game heist to suddenly we're pirates? I saw none of it as brilliant storytelling and it struck me as an ADHD author that's confused about what genre their writing.
@Morfeusm3 жыл бұрын
@@Raltie It’s complicated. I don’t mind breaking and meshing genres. Yes, there is something in his writing which is bothering me and I can’t quite put my finger on it. From first book I mainly liked the main plot twist and contrast of the first part with trivial schemes and second much darker part. Main villain was good too. Second book had off putting start, I DNFd it three times and took me two years to get to the pirates which I really enjoyed for some reason, don’t ask me why. So far I really like the third book while it has it’s problems. I think this author isn’t bad or anything close to it, for me he started average in first two books and actually third one has some good prose, and it kind of struck my cords. But it’s very depressing and even more adhd. It concerns with death, unrequited love, stage actors, and many actually interesting themes which I was not expecting to find in fantasy. I finally got to enjoy Jean and Locke friendship which is genuinely good written. But yeah it’s all over the place. It’s not for everyone.
@theherooffire0074 жыл бұрын
That tiny, blurry Iroh Pop in the shelf behind Merphy makes me so happy. He's just sitting there, drinking his tea, watching over Merphy, as Iroh would do.
@popuri484 жыл бұрын
I actually agree regarding Sanderson's prose. The expressions he chooses to use can get very repetitive. But then again, he is an amazing story-teller and I appreciate the straightforward writing style, at the same time.
@vanjakatarina15174 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry, can someone explain what prose are?? I feel bad for not understanding..😅🙈🙏
@15nicinho4 жыл бұрын
I am raising my eyebrow at you right now
@mlell4 жыл бұрын
@@vanjakatarina1517 Prose would be ones writing style. More specifically the word choice, sentence construction, and the overall rhythm and flow of the passages.
@erindahlvig4 жыл бұрын
I had my husband start the audiobook for Mistborn: Final Empire right after I finished listening to Name of the Wind and the difference was... jarring... to say the least. I feel like he definitely stepped up his prose in the later Stormlight books after finishing off Wheel of Time.
@vanjakatarina15174 жыл бұрын
@@mlell Thank you!!💕💕🙏😅
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
When Merphy almost dropped her Lord of the Rings books lol
@sonea94444 жыл бұрын
the "No!" 😂 i had to laugh really hard
@00ammy004 жыл бұрын
I physically winced
@the_corvid974 жыл бұрын
I was eating cereal and I almost spat it out.
@Nassit-Gnuoy4 жыл бұрын
Someone should edit a montage of every book she’s dropped.
@boscovisionbottomtext26584 жыл бұрын
I was impressed at how classy she handled it. I would have shouted the C word at the top of my lungs
@anne1709_4 жыл бұрын
Who else keeps watching booktube vids and buying the recommended books instead of actually reading them?! Please tell me I'm not alone 😅
@keeprockin693 жыл бұрын
Lalala. I'm not confirming anything. *whistles innocently*
@deepsquat6003 жыл бұрын
That's hilarious... That's me with Kindle offers
@smile-46412 жыл бұрын
nOoO . . . k maybe
@snowscorvids1864 жыл бұрын
I had no idea liking LoTR was something people weren’t allowed to do anymore, my mom read that to us as children and it’s one of my favorite memories. The lord of the rings is amazing
@darkknightt10504 жыл бұрын
When you picked up Chronicles of Narnia instead of the Gentleman bastards I was literally shocked for a second. I was like, " Wait, do I not know Merphy at all?" Hahaha
@Joe-9444 жыл бұрын
Ok, i read this comment before watching and i was still like WTFFFF for a second
@henrywayne57244 жыл бұрын
Wait. What?!
@sy.kepler4 жыл бұрын
That was a truly LOL moment for me. Didn't believe it for a second.
@NinaNiterose864 жыл бұрын
If you only watch her videos and never talked to her irl, then no, you don't know her.
@johnpulliam3953 жыл бұрын
@@NinaNiterose86 Actually, under those conditions Merphy doesn't know Darknight ... but he can learn a great deal about, and come to know, her. It's like the group Rush has a lyric that goes, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend." It's about meeting fans. Because the fans feel like the group members ARE old friends, from years or decades of being fans...but the band has never even met them. It's an uneven relationship, a totally one-sided relationship. And can be very unbalancing for both people when they do meet. So yeah, Darknight probably feels, with justification, as if he (she, they) know Merphy fairly well. Can't say they're wrong.
@Pearlxox4 жыл бұрын
Anyone else a long time subby that remembers the days when merph didn’t read Fantasy? (So glad she discovered her love for it!!)
@triasha37904 жыл бұрын
Yes! Remember when she felt meh about The Lies of Loch Lamora 😂
@kammy63404 жыл бұрын
What!!! She never liked Fantasy!! I would never have guessed that.
@TheGeekyHippie4 жыл бұрын
Not me, I didn't discover her until Daniel's visit to her and Corey's place a while back, around when they did their first collab video.
@ophirelda33683 жыл бұрын
I had a hard time reading The Fellowship of the Ring the first time, but the moment I clicked with the writing style, I really fell in love not only with the book and the whole trilogy but the writing style itself. It gives a unique charm. I think the whole LotR is such a brilliant masterpiece. Everything about it is just beautiful for me.
@jojobookish95294 жыл бұрын
THE SCOURING OF THE SHIRE IS THEMATICALLY NECESSARY YES THANK YOU!!
@jaycievictory84614 жыл бұрын
It's so important for Merry and Pippin's arcs!
@timswabb4 жыл бұрын
It is in the book because it’s a hobbitcentric story. Not so much in the movie.
@keretaman4 жыл бұрын
I just read The Odyssey, and yeah The Scouring of the Shire is the finale of The Odyssey. It's that finale for their new developed selves. Odysseus, his son Telemachus, the swineherd and cowherd against the suitors exploiting Odysseus's wealth = Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin against Saruman and the orcs exploiting the Shire!
@timswabb4 жыл бұрын
@keretaman The Odyssey is a bit different. The Iliad is the story of the war, with the focus on Achilles. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ trip home, with many interludes showing the crisis at home during his 20 year absence, from the perspective of Telemachus, the son he left behind.
@apocalypsereading71174 жыл бұрын
@@keretaman omg that's brilliant! as a huge fan of both lotr and greek myth can't believe i never noticed it. the whole idea of "we just need to get home" being switched for "but home has been changed since we've been gone, and we need one last battle to put things back to how they were" is such a key part of both these stories and their characters. thanks for pointing it out!
@toenailairconditioner74064 жыл бұрын
"I take real-life situations and think about Death Note." Police? Yes, that woman right there.
@vamanbajare52293 жыл бұрын
Death note is my favourite Anime
@bigboss30513 жыл бұрын
he/she/they may not identify as a woman. I'm not saying you're a bad person, just be more careful in the future...
@bigboss30513 жыл бұрын
@Dan Evans ok transphobe
@bigboss30513 жыл бұрын
@Dan Evans ok fascist. It’s VERY clear what you’re trying to do here… take a look at the world around you and ask yourself ‘could I make this a better place?’. The answer is yes, if only you would stop misgendering people… You’re welcome, have a GREAT day.
@livriomer4 жыл бұрын
My favorite books will always be The Lord of the Rings. But can you imagine how epic the Stormlight Archive will be once the whole 10 books are finished??
@hubertboisvertboucher20713 жыл бұрын
I'm with you on Return of the King ! It's a rare things in both book and movies to see the results of the climax, to see the world's "new status quo" establishing itself and get an idea of the character's fate after the main events :) It can be extremely satisfying especially when the events brought a lot of change to the world
@mackenzies.g.98624 жыл бұрын
"And I'm nonconfrontational, so I didn't send them back" Oh, I truly feel that, Merphy.
@KristinMomentsOfSanctuary4 жыл бұрын
I love how dramatic you gesture with the LOTR books in your hands as you preach it gurl! 🧡 will put storm light series on my list. Thanks!
@bmoneybby4 жыл бұрын
Ya I saw that too haha
@johnritter10834 жыл бұрын
It's an amazing series you will love it. Or not. Who knows, I did though.
@Lynn-CA4 жыл бұрын
Round of applause for "Listen, just let people like things okay" (and round of applause for the editing close up too - I assume Korey?)
@SereneDancer4 жыл бұрын
MOOD! I know it's the internet, but we've just got to let people like what they like.
@shailejanarain4 жыл бұрын
That little picture of Daniel during the wheel of time had me wheezin lol
@gabrielavillar39854 жыл бұрын
It would be funny if Rothfuss started the third book with Kvothe realizing he’s going to need a fourth day to finish the story 😅
@kevingraham47364 жыл бұрын
makes me think of Sanderson when he was finishing Wheel of Time. They were like "finish the last book"....... yea 3 books later. It didnt fit
@keirscott-schrueder56253 жыл бұрын
hahahaha
@denzoThirteenEleven2 жыл бұрын
that got a legit LOL out of me. Well played
@danielobrien81002 жыл бұрын
He's taking over 10 years because he realised he's fucked himself there lol
@kharose2 жыл бұрын
*Possible Spoiler?* Is there any chance of Kvothe surviving? Because I'm still reading the second book and it does NOT look good for him.
@bracerofplanets62744 жыл бұрын
Throwback to when Mistborn was like number one on this list! Before Merphy read all those other series
@keirscott-schrueder56253 жыл бұрын
Wow that is a big change
@LostinDiscovery4 жыл бұрын
I've just started watching but this list is absolutely legendary! The Stormlight Archive hit me so hard it made me create this KZfaq channel just to gush about it! I loved hearing your thoughts on The First Law Trilogy as well, I'm planning to get onto that after my long journey through the Cosmere. Thanks for the great content as always Merphy :)
@kevinerskine32994 жыл бұрын
So glad you included Lord of the Rings. Elitist can hate all they want. It started it all and it definitely holds up. I agree with every single thing you said about it.
@AStangeSoup4 жыл бұрын
She does the #1 first to let us know instead of starting at #10 to keep us watching. Truly a woman of the people
@snow50644 жыл бұрын
Merphy- "If you aren't going to watch the video, I wan't you to take awa the best books." You don't need to tell what is your fav. LITERALLY EVERYBODY KNOWS! Btw, just read Lies Of Locke Lamora and it's absolutely great
@sineadjenks53254 жыл бұрын
Whilst doing my makeup and hair for the day, I always watch your videos. The part where you said my favourite "chronicles of Narnia" no lie, lip stick went down my face and past my chin and had to do a double take 😂😂😂
@lenani91433 жыл бұрын
When you went on the LotR "rant" - I felt that. Not necessarily with those books (really need to reread them) but MAN, the passion! That's why you are my favourite booktuber! I love you ☺️
@amitcharual4 жыл бұрын
Merphy - Puts Harry Potter at 9th number Potterheads- *There is something Siriusly Ron with you*
@vamanbajare52293 жыл бұрын
Lol
@subramaniamk90943 жыл бұрын
😂😂😂😂
@carlwilliams96424 жыл бұрын
I feel like the only one here that's sad that she did the Chronicles of Narnia dirty like that. Edit: Okay Merphy, I forgive you after that LOTR gush/throwing shade at haters who think it's not "modern enough".
@thebkg4 жыл бұрын
Agreed on Narnia. Merphy has stated she is a Christian so I was hoping Narnia would at least make the list. Though I admit I actually like The Song of Alvion better than Narnia. I'm trying to point Merphy towards it but since I'm not a Patreon and I can't afford to purchase her a copy (OMG, I just realized, I'm literally a peasant right now) so my voice is drowned out.
@carlwilliams96424 жыл бұрын
@@thebkg Yeah, that's the downside of large channels/communities. You don't really have a voice unless you're in the "inner circle". Even sending them copies doesn't guarantee anything. I sent Daniel Greene a copy of the Chronicles of Prydain and even that got lost in the shuffle because it wasn't being requested on Discord and Patreon.
@the_corvid974 жыл бұрын
@@thebkg I have not heard of Song of Alvion, what is it?
@thebkg4 жыл бұрын
@@the_corvid97 Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead. It's based on Celtic lore and its absolutely awesome! Lawhead also did a King Arthur series that's from a Biblical Worldview point. Like a Christian version. My friend recommended it but for whatever reason I never read it. But he had a hard time getting his Alvion series back from me till I could buy my own. 😂😂😂
@the_corvid974 жыл бұрын
@@thebkg I will have to look into it, many thanks!
@mariana.c894 жыл бұрын
I am currently reading Lord of the Rings at the moment, and I thought I'd have a harder time with Tolkien's writing, but I'm enjoying it so far.
@keeprockin693 жыл бұрын
I think for many people it's just the fact that it's so different from anything written in modern language. If you're not used to archaic writing styles it can take a minute getting used to it.
@nr50763 жыл бұрын
Especially if you have trouble with reading
@Jallen403563 жыл бұрын
Subscribed at “Just kidding...it’s the Gentleman Bastards.” 😂
@smilingtiger.59933 жыл бұрын
Why what was it
@anjar64834 жыл бұрын
So glad that Death Note made this list! It’s one of my absolute favorites! I literally had the mystery genre ruined for me because Death Note was the first mystery I read and it is so well executed. I just know that no other mystery series can ever satisfy me the way Death Note can. It is a work of genius.
@sirbooksage4 жыл бұрын
Some of my favorite fantasy series (besides all things Tolkien): Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin Thomas Covenant Chronicles by Stephen R. Donaldson Memory, Sorrow, Thorn by Tad Williams Avaryan Rising by Judith Tarr A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin Dragon Prince and Dragon Star Trilogies by Melanie Rawn
@johnlindsay73013 жыл бұрын
I loved the Silmarillion too. I really think these books hold up. It’s really a matter of language. If you can appreciate the language, which just takes time to absorb, it truly is amazing. There is something you get from reading a book you don’t get other forms of consumable media that is just amazing here. It really sparks the imagination. It’s a feeling unique to reading. And I love it. And Tolkien did it best.
@jacobstamm2 жыл бұрын
I think Tolkien takes me longer to read than any other fiction author, but there’s so much baked into his wording. It’s like a rich steak that you want to chew slowly so you don’t miss anything.
@floggingluna2 жыл бұрын
You got me to read the gentleman bastards and even if they are not my favorite fantasy books I want to thank you for such a good recommendation!
@angelinadamiano89243 жыл бұрын
You inspired me to read Lord of The Rings :) I’m a 24 year old book worm and have begun to dive into so many more genres and literature. I stayed away from LOTR because of the hype but...there’s gotta be a reason for the hype right? I’m a fantasy fiend and live for it so ...I’m excited! Love your vids!
@StephenAryan444 жыл бұрын
Hmm, compiling a top 10 would take a long, long time, but some absolute favourites that have not been mentioned are: - Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb - First 3 books in the Drenai Saga (Legend, The King Beyond the Gate, Waylander) by David Gemmell - Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula le Guin - The Song of the Shattered Sands by Bradley Beaulieu - Memory Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams - The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwall (Arthurian myth trilogy ) I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of others.
@thenameofthewind74294 жыл бұрын
I just started The Lies of Locke Lamora yesterday (and by “started” I mean I read the 30pg prologue) and I can already tell it’s going to be a favorite!
@hawknasty6964 жыл бұрын
great list. I laughed really hard at that Daniel Greene insert when talking about TWOT
@uptown36364 жыл бұрын
Merphy’s persistent praise for the Gentlemen Bastards series finally convinced me to order Lies of Locke Lamora. I’ll be starting it tomorrow! Also, 7:30. 😂
@ultravioletcatastrophe4 жыл бұрын
I've been stuck in LoLL for like a month now 😖 I wish I could be as enthusiastic about it as Merphy
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
oh Merphy rubbing in that you got The Fires of Vengeance early and making us jealous 😭😭
@annieainegoolie17494 жыл бұрын
I still love Lord of the Rings, even though as an adult I quibble over the constant need for monarchies as an ultimate good in fantasy literature. I really love the effort Christopher Tolkien has put into releasing his father's notes and early drafts of each of his works, as it allows you to follow through how Tolkien rewrote and thought his way through the world he created.
@Thelaretus2 жыл бұрын
There's a radio interview with Tolkien on KZfaqwhere he talks about that. But St. Thomas Aquinas does consider Monarchy to be the best form of government (read 'Dē Regnō').
@VicRibeiro7774 жыл бұрын
Merphy, the fact that you read The Silmarillion, and liked it... That is awesome!!! It can be hard, and it should not be read as other normal stories, it is very dense... but OH MAN, it adds so much to Tolkien's world... I loved it.
@lukabeckett25363 жыл бұрын
Totally agree with you on Lord of the Rings. At the end of the day it’s a story about an epic journey and somehow Tolkien makes you feel like you’re on an epic journey too and then you get to recover and say goodbye at the end.
@embran84864 жыл бұрын
Death Note? Horror? Nah. Psychological thriller or Mystery with heavy supernatural element. that's it. So modern day real-life setting with fantasy elements. Borderline fit for the list. ^^
@Rowan_A_Boat4 жыл бұрын
My number 1 fantasy series is definitely One Piece, for essentially the same reasons you gave for liking the wheel of time series. The massive, complex world, & massive cast, & cool magic system, & masterful foreshadowing. I really cannot recommend it enough, my favorite book series of all time. It's rarely discussed on booktube, & I look forward to every fresh perspective I can get on it, so please please consider it for your list. I know it's long, but it's definitely worth it, for the freedom & pirates & adventure! The first 60 or so chapters are fine, but the story doesn't seem too special, & then it hits a tipping point, & I promise you'll be hooked forever. Each character is impactful, & the world is constantly moving, even or especially when the MCs aren't around. Each island has a full culture right at its core, so that it all makes sense even under scrutiny. The devil fruit magic system is so simple, yet so insanely creative. Don't watch the anime... it's... it's not... Please don't watch the anime, they ruined the pacing, & it still hurts me. Read the manga, it's so so so good.
@laiaal.33244 жыл бұрын
Honestly I very much doubt any youtube book reviewer will ever get on board to read something as long as One Piece, they have a lot of books to read and that would take a huge comitment and a lot of money to buy all those mangas
@Rowan_A_Boat4 жыл бұрын
@@laiaal.3324 It's available legally online for the price of a Viz membership right hya: www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapters/one-piece & available free online as well, but probably not legally? Idk. & idk if length is really an issue, considering she just finished wheel of time recently... besides that, OP's chapters can be collected into volumes, & then those into arcs. She could review any of these denominations individually at her leisure, & that kind of regular, reliable, sure-to-be-popular video series are a youtuber's dream. But even if she never made a video on it, I'd still want her (& you) to read it bc it's legitimately that good. Have you ever left a story wanting more? One Piece embodies that feeling *& then delivers on it*. I know it's long & you're scared, & what little you've heard about it on the internet makes it sound like a little kid's fever dream where all the radically different toys in their toybox all somehow exist in the same universe. Just trust me on this: it's worth it.
@TheTurtle11002 жыл бұрын
@@laiaal.3324 this didn’t age well
@guilhermerinco30414 жыл бұрын
Top5 for me is something like this: 1 - The Cosmere (Brandon Sanderson) 2 - Realm of the Elderlings (Robin Hobb) 3 - Powder Mage series (Brian McClellan) 4 - First Law (Joe Abercrombie) 5 - Gentlemen Bastards (Scott Lynch)
@timswabb4 жыл бұрын
Not enough people have mentioned Robin Hobb.
@leslieg43444 жыл бұрын
I know that sounds ridiculous but the German cover of HP1 you just hold up gave me pure nostalgia and made me feel so much better. Love your videos!
@JoeK74 жыл бұрын
9/10. Thats crazy! Mine are almost exactly the same. It makes sense since i am not super well read and pretty much all of what i have read so far has been based on glowing reviews online. Gentleman Bastards is my all time favorite and is what got me back into reading as an adult. I am like most people who grew up with Harry Potter and then dropped reading for a while. The only difference to your list is Deathnote which i haven't read, so i would have to swap that out for The Band series by Nicholas Eames :D
@kyra57834 жыл бұрын
Merphy: "Book two isn't out yet, it will be out in november" while holding up BOOK 2!! Give it to me 👀
@49perfectss4 жыл бұрын
I love that my favorite author technically made the list three times! Hahaha Sanderson is just that incredibly amazingly good! I agree about the pros by the way but he really really is just that good.
@tomweinstein4 жыл бұрын
"Just let people like things." Yes.
@mattkean11284 жыл бұрын
I'm in the middle of the Poppy War series, and with the last one coming out in November it's a great time to dive in. I think you'd like it.
@Katie-qz5hf4 жыл бұрын
I totally agree with you about Frodo, he is amazing in the books!!
@jaycievictory84614 жыл бұрын
So strong-willed. I don't think you get that in the films. How extraordinary his resistance was. Even though he cracked in the end. It's still extraordinary.
@booklover4624 жыл бұрын
When Death Note came I literally screamed. I LOVE Death Note (and Mangas and Animes generally)
@Rowan_A_Boat4 жыл бұрын
Manga & anime is cool bc it's so weird & unattached from western norms & social values. ReadOnePiece
@QuantumtestGaming3 жыл бұрын
Monster is better
@irridian34944 жыл бұрын
Now let me recommend something slightly different: Ascendance of a Bookworm. Yes, I know it’s a Japanese light novel series (and an reincarnation isekai at that), but while its world building might not reach tLotR in the macroscopic range it is extremely detailed in the micro area. I am not generally very fond of stories told in first-person perspective, but in this case, it helps the immersion of the world building since we learn about the world together with the protagonist. The English translation is very good as far as translations go, so if you like a story driven by character interaction with a slow methodic buildup and excellently thought out world than have a look at it.
@natasagajic10614 жыл бұрын
This video (yet again) shows just how different our fantasy tastes are. Not that it matters, as I love your videos and thoughtful reviews 😁 But it's still really fun to compare, as NONE of your series are on my top 10 list (and it's always great when our tastes actually do align - shout out to Letters to the Lost! 😁) I personally never understood the LOTR craze 🤷♀️ I won't explain my reasoning here for why I don't like it, as it would turn into a MASSIVE rant, but I will say that I'm in my second YEAR of forcing myself to read through it and whenever I pick it up, I end up in a bad reading slump, that's how much I dislike it. That being said, I do have an appreciation for it, as it inspired things like D&D and Orzammar in Dragon Age games (and many, many other stories), both of which I love to bits. Anyway, here's my, at the top of my head, top 10 list of fantasy series: 1.One Piece (manga/anime) 2. Naruto (without fillers, ofc; manga/anime) 3. Dragon Age games (Origins for the heart wrenching choices and DA II for the romance) 4. Virovi series (whimsical middle grade fantasy series in my native language) 5. Log Horizon (my favorite isekai anime) 6. Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren`t They? (my 2nd favorite isekai anime; mythology inspired) 7. Amos Daragon series (Canadian middle grade fantasy series with my favorite execution of the elemental magic system; also mythology inspired) 8. Deltora Quest(and other Deltora series) (whimsical Australian middle grade fantasy series; also riddles abound) 9. Samurai of Hyuga (Choice of Games fantasy game series where you play as a samurai) 10. The Legend of Heroes: Trails series (my favorite JRPG series) I would put Greek mythology 100% on the list, but, can it be counted as a series? 😅 As it was my introduction into fantasy and I love it to this day, especially the mythology surrounding the Trojan war. All that tragedy because of the beauty contest?!!
Isn’t it more accurate to discuss someone’s “writing style” rather than their “prose”? Prose is literally defined as “writing that isn’t verse”. So almost everything we read nowadays is prose. When discussing an author’s word choice, sentence structure, descriptiveness, etc it seems like it makes more sense to refer to it as that author’s writing style. I could be wrong but since you’re not comparing an author’s prose to their verse (if you were comparing the two, then it would make sense to say something like “his prose is somewhat bland, but his poetry is beautiful “), but rather commenting on their style, this makes the most sense to me.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
It’s just shorthand. Everyone knows it really means writing style.
@mmurphy36084 жыл бұрын
Udy Kumra I suppose. It just seems like a “booktube” thing to me. I was an English major and don’t recall any of my literature teachers using the word “prose” like this. Seems that a couple of booktubers started using it in their videos and then others picked it up. Doesn’t feel accurate so it sort of diminishes what’s being said, IMO. Just a personal preference though.
@MusicBlik4 жыл бұрын
On my latest reread of LOTR, the Scouring of the Shire was the single moment of character development clarity four Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. To see them stand up to Sharkey's thugs showed exactly how much they'd grown. "You don't scare me, I convinced a tree to go to war/hamstrung a lich king/wrestled an acromantula/threw a horcrux into a volcano/stared down a Maiar/saved the world. In comparison, you're small potatoes. We're gonna boil you, mash you, stick you in a stew, and take back our home."
@elvarwinston3 жыл бұрын
I love how passionately you talk about your favourite books I am 33 years old and I have never been a big reader, I have read very few books in my life partly due to being forced to read boring books in school, and also how computers have taken over everything. This Christmas I got a kindle e reader as a gift and I have already read 3 books and now I feel like this completely new world has just opened up to me. There are so many books and stories I cant wait to explore I just cannot believe how much I have been missing out all this time. Later I might even attempt difficult books like the idiot by Dostojevski which I find really interesting but for the time being I'm sticking with adventurous books with themes of exotic places and great story telling.
@ferransilves9074 жыл бұрын
Your top 10 and 9 are my top 1 and 2, and your top 1 is one of the few fantasy series I've ever DNF'd....😂 Crazy to see how different people see things differently! Love your videos🧡🧡
@timswabb4 жыл бұрын
I also did not finish book 3 in the Gentleman Bastard series.
@rome81803 жыл бұрын
The First Law is my favorite series ever. I love everything about Abercrombie's writing, but especially the characters, the writing style, and the humor. And I love his bleak and cynical vision of the world.
@omarabdelkadereldarir74584 жыл бұрын
Merphy, I never vibed with you more than when you talked about Lord of the Rings.
@ashokdey66972 жыл бұрын
As a mangreader I was really glad when you talked about "Death Note" ☺ if you love reading manga then I highly recommend you to read the manga I mentioned below :- 1) Berserk 2) Attack on Titan 3) Hell's Paradise 4) Demon Slayer 5) Mashle : Magic and Muscles
@ashokdey66972 жыл бұрын
@Kesh1354 yeah Vinland Saga is awesome too.
@guilhermefigueiredo39364 жыл бұрын
I'm from Brazil and I love watch your videos, I don't understand all the things that you say because I'm still learning but congratulations to your beautiful job!!! Edit: when I'm watchig your videos I want read so many books but same of them I can't read because don't have in Brazil, it's sad but I need move on!
@wwfix32244 жыл бұрын
Your English is amazing
@guilhermefigueiredo39364 жыл бұрын
@@wwfix3224 Really? Thank you! It's very good to listen ( read kkkk) this!
@annaclaranovato94934 жыл бұрын
Oii Guilherme! Quero apenas falar para vc não desistir e ir tentando aos pouquinhos! No início do ano eu achava que não era capaz de ler em inglês e hoje já li the way of kings e outros! Comece com livros de não fantasia e depois vá aumentando o nível aos pouquinhos! Não adianta achar que não consegue e não tentar, pq muitas vezes nos auto-sabotamos! Tenho certeza que vc irá conseguir e arrasar!
@carnissa4 жыл бұрын
Eu leio tudo em inglês mesmo. É o jeito :/ continue estudando o idioma! Valerá a pena
@guilhermefigueiredo39364 жыл бұрын
Muito obrigado pelas dicas! Eu gosto muito do idioma porém ainda n consigo ler, e com a pandemia estou estudando por conta própria, aí gosto de ver alguns vídeos em inglês de assuntos que eu gosto, como livros, para ir praticando
@zangrita18544 жыл бұрын
I'm so happy that you read Death Note! It really is such an amazing manga/anime :) edit: I'm actually in the small percentage of fans who really loved the second half too
@shylieinvestigations89983 жыл бұрын
My favorite chapter of Silmarillion is Ainulindale, the creation story (symphony). All through the rest of the book and LotR, I can see the influence of the progression of that music. I read Lord of the Rings in college in the 80's and didn't find it too daunting, albeit I was a determined reader. I even read Phantastes by 19th century writer George McDonald because I was engrossed with the Inklings (ie Tolkien, Lewis, Chesterton, and Charles Williams) for a while, and several of them were inspired by him. But I'm just getting into more modern fantasy, (except Harry Potter which I've read several times, as well as Gaiman) and lists like yours and Dan's are very helpful for that. So thanks if you read this so long after your post. ☺
@nursyvibz37884 жыл бұрын
The Book of Babel! Give this series some love!!!!! Senlin Ascends is so good. Actually all three books are so good, but waiting on the 4th to come out next year!!!!
@JulianTheRanger4 жыл бұрын
I deeply appreciate the fact that you start the LotR section by stating that it is in fact one book, published in three volumes. That just made my Tolkien-trash soul sing with joy.
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
Makes you jump higher than Telvido the Prince of Cats?
@JulianTheRanger4 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm That would be high indeed! I have not the power to leap into huge trees to avoid Huan (not that I would want to avoid him). Will dancing with joy among the hemlocks, albeit not with the grace of Lúthien, suffice? :)
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
The Rage of Dragons series is called The Burning! :)
@contrapasso4 жыл бұрын
My high school journalism teacher loved The Name of the Wind so much that he had the European cover painted as a massive mural on his classroom wall. So I read it and loved it and I thought that Kvothe was SO much like my teacher that I actually started to wonder whether my teacher was the author. He’s not, but honestly the similarities are so crazy and I just adore that series. It’s been a long 10 years waiting for The Doors of Stone.
@lukasbohnenkamper49544 жыл бұрын
Great list. I would add Steven Erikson's "The Malazan Book of the Fallen", Nicholas Eames' "The Band", George Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire", Andrzej Sapkowski's "The Witcher" (although the short stories are in my opinion better than the novels), Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" Universe (it's not a real series, but four interconnected books and novellas) and (maybe for nostalgia) Paul S. Kemp's "The Chronicles of Erevis Cale" (Forgotten Realms).
@katiesevin83464 жыл бұрын
“The Chronicles of Narnia” Me: ...............................huh “Jk it’s the Gentlemen Bastards series” Me: ahhhh that makes more sense
@rustydaboyrobot4 жыл бұрын
#1 Magician series by Raymond E Feist #2 LOTR - Tolkien #3 The Belgariad - David Eddings #4 Shanara Series - Terry Brooks #5 Word/Void series - Terry Brooks #6;Night Angel series - Brent Weeks #7;Farseer series - Robin Hobb #8 Icewind Dale series - RA Salvatore #9Cleric Quintet - RA Salvatore #10 Harry Potter- JK Rowling Honorable mention - The Redemption of Athalus - David Eddings. (Stand alone, but a great anti-Hero character). These are mine...so we only have 2 in common. 😄
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
Oh wow so old school
@jaycievictory84614 жыл бұрын
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! The Belgariad needs more love!
@rustydaboyrobot4 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm Lol. DEFINITELY old school. I read new stuff, and some are quite good, but she said top 10 favs...and had to go with the ones I picked. 😆
@rustydaboyrobot4 жыл бұрын
@@jaycievictory8461 Definitely 😊 I was told im SO old school...lol. ill take that as a compliment. My FIRST fantasy book was The Hobbit when I was 11. Up till then, I read every Western my dad had, so I was a big Louis L'Amour fan...but...fantasy...magic...elves...dwarves....lol. I was hooked.
@jaycievictory84614 жыл бұрын
@@rustydaboyrobot my first was the Hobbit too! Age 8. Dad wouldn't let me read LOTR until I was 10 cos he thought I was too young to fully appreciate. Then I found "Queen of Sorcery" in my school library age 11 and came home asking questions. Dad practically cracked his knuckles with glee, and thus my Eddings education began. You would get on so well with my Dad! He's also got a massive collection of Louis L'Amour novels 😂
@RyanKapsar3 жыл бұрын
When you pulled of Rage of Dragons and a SECOND book, I had to immediately look to see what was up with that. I was lucky enough to do an earlish review of Rage of Dragons so I've been pretty excited about reading the sequel. I'm excited that it's on the list.
@kaygee53464 жыл бұрын
Favourite series in no particular order, Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - Librarians trying to acquire books from different earth's while avoiding the notice of dragons and Fae, the Liaden universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, the five god's series by Lois McMaster Bujold, LOTR, Discworld, Stormlight Archive, the Sixth World by Rebecca Townhouse, Divine Cities and The Founder's series by Robert Jackson Bennett, Robin Hobb Farseer books, Steerswomen by Rosemary Kirstein
@garymasseyjr.27564 жыл бұрын
That bookshelf makes my eyes water.... with envy. Great taste & insight. I'll have to read a few of the recommendations.
@malex__18914 жыл бұрын
The way Merphy assumes that the third Name of the Wind book will actually come out one day is really cute 😅
@selinah28714 жыл бұрын
So I just finished the first book of the Gentlemen Bastards series because of your recommendation, so thank you! Loved it despite the slow build up, but so worth it to be able to piece everything together. Watching this list of your favorite series and your reasons for them, all I could think was “Have your read the Riyria Revelations series?” and “would it be on your favorites list if you did?” Amazing friendship and an immersive world full of lore. I’m sure I’m not the first to recommend it, but I’m just going to add my voice to theirs.
@doc8374 жыл бұрын
So glad you commented on Sanderson's prose. Workmanlike is a charitable description, but he's totally worth reading anyway.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
I like Harry Potter but I would like it a lot more had JK Rowling not done her absolute best to sour the taste of HP in my mouth
@SirGrimothy4 жыл бұрын
I just ignore her existence
@Scweese4 жыл бұрын
@@SirGrimothy kinda hard when she still makes money off of the series.
@Azn_Bran4 жыл бұрын
She's the epitome of the idea behind, "never meet your heroes".
@tariqthomas90904 жыл бұрын
Seriously. Even before revealing her extremely bigoted and dangerous views, she had done so much to actively destroy the canon that had long since been established and adored. Just ugh.
@or94224 жыл бұрын
@@tariqthomas9090 After all that "wizards shat themselves" stuff, I lost all my respect for her as an author. After the terf shit, I lost all my respect for her as a person.
@coreydinardo55254 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for you to start BEST SERVED COLD! I just started A LITTLE HATRED and it's so damn good. Abercrombie just keeps getting better :)
@rfmei2 жыл бұрын
I absolutely agree with all your points about The Kingkiller Chronicles regarding the second book. I absolutely adore The Name of The Wind. It was the book that really helped me fall in love with reading fantasy - or actually reading at all. I just remember getting my kindle and buying it on a friend's recommendation and immersing myself in this incredible universe. I devoured that first book. When it came to the second book it just felt so... unfocused? The analogy I came up with is that it feels like ready someone's playthrough of Skyrim, where the player gets constantly distracted by side missions and random content around. What you said about the author living out his fantasies also rubbed me the wrong way throughout the book. I hope that The Doors of Stone is more akin to The Name of Wind and really brings this story home.
@montazmeahii60293 жыл бұрын
Making a top 10 list is difficult. I respect that you were able to put together one. I think my list would LOOSELY go like this 1. Wheel of Time 2. The Belgariad/Mallorean 3. The Farseer Trilogy 4. Stormlight Archive 5. Mistborn 6. Sword of Truth 7. Tyrants and Kings 8. Song of Ice and Fire 9. The First Law 10. Gentleman Bastard If I were to judge Ender's Game, Dune, or Name of the Wind as standalone novels, they'd be in this list too.
@uzairkhanonstuff4 жыл бұрын
Hey Merphy, We would absolutely love to see you taking us to your book store 😍😍( A Vlog maybe!).. Lots Of Love from India❤🥰
@ducky36F4 жыл бұрын
Book Frodo is so underrated
@OraNui4 жыл бұрын
I'm wrapping up with The Hobbit for the first time. You made me super hyped for reading The Lord of the Rings!
@stephenhayes56363 жыл бұрын
I like your jumper, the colours work really well together, the blue stands out. Great video as well, thanks!
@henrywayne57244 жыл бұрын
You had me there with Narnia! 😂😂😂
@dominoday264 жыл бұрын
I just recently got back into fantasy and this list is awesome. I also recently read Raven's Shadow (Blood Song is #1) and I think more people should check that one out, I absolutely loved it!
@c.w.hughes26093 жыл бұрын
I just noticed how dope ur book shelf is. So many cool books back there
@gregharn12 жыл бұрын
I love how expressive you are a kit these books! I haven't heard/seen so much passion in years!