@rosshardy
Ross Hardy
Hello, I'm Ross, one half of Hardy’s Books.
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6,082 booksWhat are your favorite books of all time?
When you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
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8 booksWhat are some books that remind you of films by the Coen Brothers?
Everyone loves a Coen Brothers film, but what are some books that gave you that same feeling? I'm looking for dark humour, wholesome (and not-so-wholesome) characters, fantastic plots, unexpected t...
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21 booksIn honour of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, what are the best dieselpunk and/or post-apocalyptic books?
We've been truly blessed to have such a strong prequel to one of the greatest post-apocalyptic action films of all time, Mad Max: Fury Road. With that in mind, what are some books that evoke simila...
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24 booksWhat books brought you out of a reading slump?
We've all been there—it's easy to get distracted and go for a while without reading anything. But what books brought you out of that place?
Ross Hardy's Most Popular Reviews
Laura and I were entirely bowled over when our incessant badgering of our lovely friends at Gollancz resulted in their giving us an ARC copy of The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. Having now finished the book, I can say confidently you're in for a real treat when it drops in May 2025. Some thoughts:
- This is by far his funniest book
- Be prepared to welcome some iconic characters into the fantasy zeitgeist
- This is also by far his most Abercrombiest book
- It reads like a chaotic D&D campaign
- The first 25% is a bit of a mess
- I had a great time
Everything about Canon is at the sharp edge of absurdity: the story, despite its simplicity, barely makes sense; it’s at once our world and some anachronistic dreamscape; it strains against the limitations of prose and, on occasion, breaks loose—never in a contrived way; rather, a return to its most comfortable form. Canon is preposterous, but so is life. Paige Lewis intentionally cracks the shell of reality to show you the goopy yolk inside, and, well, I was moved by the yolk.
It's been a while since I've been so captivated by a book that I have foregone essential things like eating, drinking and other bodily functions, but The Salt King managed to do that.
Natasha Pulley expertly controls the amount of knowledge the reader has. At each revelation, you're given just a little bit more to pull at. Nothing is revealed too early or too late. And nothing is predictable.
It felt to me like the perfect blend of the mystery horror of Hyperion with the fae danger and alternate history of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Funnily enough, those are two of my favourite books, and I feel like it stands up to both of them quite well.
Like most others on here, I wish I could go and visit Hreodwater. I'll have to settle for visiting it again in the pages of this book. It was such a vividly painted world, and I can't recommend this book highly enough.