Brandon Sanderson

Pros

• Advocates for fair pay and better treatment of young authors in the publishing industry.
• Exceptional world-building and imaginative concepts, particularly within the Cosmere.
• Clear, direct, and highly digestible prose that is easy for a wide range of readers to follow.
• Strong track record of finishing large-scale projects and maintaining a consistent release schedule.
• Intricate and well-defined magic systems that appeal to fans of 'hard' fantasy.

Cons

• Prose is frequently described as functional or plain, with a focus on 'telling' rather than 'showing.'
• Dialogue and character depth are often cited as weaknesses, particularly in his earlier works.
• Some readers find his humor and romantic subplots to have a 'teen romance' or YA-leaning tone.
• Magic systems can become overly technical, sometimes requiring appendices to keep track of mechanics.

Caveats

• His writing style is fundamentally different from 'gritty' authors like George R.R. Martin, leading to consensus that he is a poor fit for that specific sub-genre.
• Recent sentiment suggests some long-term fans are becoming disillusioned with his prose style even while remaining interested in his world-building ideas.

Best for

• Readers who prioritize plot progression and complex world-building over stylistic prose.
• Fans of epic, interconnected fantasy universes like the Cosmere.
• Those who enjoy 'hard' magic systems with clear rules and mechanics.

Avoid if

• You prefer 'peak literature' with highly poetic or sophisticated prose.
• You dislike 'hard' fantasy that relies heavily on technical rules and appendices.
• You are looking for the specific gritty, character-driven tone found in authors like GRRM.