I’m looking for recommendations for my next read. I went through Goodreads and tried to include every book in the genre that I've read in the last five or so years. I’ve given some explanations for my ratings below, but if you’d like more specific thoughts on why I’ve ranked something where I have, then please let me know.  
  
I’m going to qualify my thoughts by noting that it’s been quite some time since I’ve read some of the books that I ranked.

I’ll also note that I exclusively read the books and don’t have the patience for audiobooks regardless of quality.  
  
**Favorites:** I don’t think there are many surprises here. Soldiers Life and Path of Ascension are newer additions to this tier for me. Both hit me just right and I’ve loved each book in those series.

**Excellent:** Again, I don’t think there are many surprises in this tier. All of these series are well written and exciting and I’ll jump to read the next book in the series when it’s available. I will note that Unbound had some slower books towards the beginning, but has hit its stride now and earned its place in the “excellent” tier for me.

**Good:** Everything here is enjoyable to me, but has something that held it back from being “excellent.” The “what” varies greatly from book to book and isn’t always easy for me to identify. Some of the newer series may edge their way higher if later books are great.

**Fine:** These were fine but I am not excited to keep reading. When I stopped on those series I had read all of the available books. If I ever run out my TBR pile, I may return.

**Read it all/didn’t enjoy:** The reason I didn’t enjoy these books is as follows:

* Dawn of the void – great writing but it was too dark for me + the ending felt cheap.
* Gamer’s Wish – I wanted to like this, but nothing hit right for me. Plot was meh.
* Mayor of Stonebridge – I wanted to enjoy a kingdom builder, but the game elements were too strong for me to enjoy.
* New Game Minus – It’s been a long time since I read this, but I remember thinking it was okay, but kind of boring  plot wise.

Paused in the Middle: I have nothing against these books. I enjoyed what I read, but later releases just fell off my radar and I don’t feel the pull to return currently, but probably will eventually.

**DNF Later in Series**: Some of these I just decided I wasn’t enjoying, others took too long between releases and I’ve lost interest in returning, others were just not great but I had powered through a few books already (Buryoku).

**DNF during/after 1****^(st)** **Book:**

I almost put Primal Hunter in the “actively disliked” category. I felt the first book was atrociously bad. I’ve read enough of the second to see that it improves a bit, but not enough to draw me in. In my mind the book has all of the structure of a great story, but none of the substance.

Savage Awakening felt similar to Primal Hunter to me, and had strange dynamics with women characters to the point that I dropped it mid book.

Menocht Loop – I pushed through the first book, but didn’t find myself invested in the story. Had no interest in continuing.

**Actively Disliked:**

Painting the Mists – I don’t remember this book well, but it’s one of the only 1 star reviews I’ve ever given in Goodreads.

Counter – I pushed through this book but just had no interest in the power or fighting system at all. The overall world building was interesting, but I found the fights hard to read.



I’m finishing the final book in Mark of the Fool now, and don’t have anything specific queued up for my next read. What do you recommend?

I'm lost in my TBR pile... what should I read next?