So I've been listening to the Writing Excuses podcast for a while now and decided to go back to some of the earlier episodes for forgotten gems and I came across an episode titled Reading Critically where you read a book with the intention of seeing what lessons you can learn. What the author did well or did not so well.

I never really tried to read critically before I just love falling into a story. But what fantaay books would you recommend if you had to pick one book that had some good lessons in for writers and readers. This can be what was done well or what was done badly and should be avoided.

Mine would be Drew Hayes Superpowerds for how to develop characters organically over time. This was originally a Web novel so it benefits to being slightly different to most classic novels but damn can you see from book 1-4 the changes and growth in a character in a gradual and not in your face way.

Or Joe Abercrombie The Blade Itself for how to write a dark world.

What would you be your recommendations?