Loved
And I really feel like Best of Cold at the time that I read it felt like the best version of Abberrombie that I had gotten.
Elliot Brooks 168K subscribers · Nov 8, 2025
TOP 5 FANTASY STANDALONES 📖
- Favorite Fantasy · 5 books · counted in creators' Favorite Fantasy
LovedLoved
Both are absolutely incredible. Both pack a punch. I definitely think Sword of Kaien packs more of an emotional punch and I think thematically Blood Over Bright Haven was exceptionally polished and it may have done more things I would say within it.
Loved
If you're looking for a rootable character, political fantasy, and you really feel like this is just a piece, you're barely scratching the surface of a very, very fully realized world, I absolutely recommend The Goblin Emperor.
Loved
But I think if you have more of that awareness of, okay, this is going to be a little in the character's head and it's more so going to be a thematic device, I think that is going to hopefully help with your expectations if you've not picked it up, which I absolutely recommend that you do. I think it's incredible.
Loved
Both are absolutely incredible. Both pack a punch. I definitely think Sword of Kaien packs more of an emotional punch and I think thematically Blood Over Bright Haven was exceptionally polished and it may have done more things I would say within it.