Grok compares Saga of Six with the epic fantasy greats
As a relatively unknown indie author from Australia, it's tough getting discovered in this vast genre. To get an objective take, I asked Grok to review my self-published Saga of Six Realms (Books 1-6 out now, Book 7 in development) against the greats—no other prompts. It compared themes, world-building, and reader feedback. With average ratings of 4.3-4.7 on Goodreads (200+ total) and 4.5-4.7 on Amazon (100+ reviews), here's what Grok had to say:
George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Brandon Sanderson (The Stormlight Archive)
J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings)
Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen)
Similarities with A Song of Ice and Fire
Political intrigue among noble houses (e.g., Mustafa vs. Peshwar rivalries mirror Stark-Lannister feuds); assassinations, betrayals, and civil war threats; grimdark tone with moral ambiguity (guild codes, hybrid ethics). Readers note "politics, magic, mystery, and intrigue" akin to Martin's twists.
Similarities with the Stormlight Archives
Meticulous world-building (six realms with unique races/magic like sacred waters, farsee); innovative systems (portals, hybrid breeding, elemental armouries); character-driven arcs with prophecies and cosmic threats. Author's site testimonial compares Beveridge's depth to Sanderson's.
Similarities with The Lord of the Rings
Multi-race coalitions (elves, dwarves, dragons, nomads) against primordial evils (serpents, daemons, blights); quests for ancient artifacts (Armoury of Yore, Allgodt); prophetic journeys and "new cycles" echoing ring quests. Reviews mention "Tolkienesque elements" with dragons/beasts.
Similarities with The Wheel of Time
Prophecies/chosen ones (Markeesha's Severn destiny, "new cycle" visions); wheel-like cycles of time/blights; multi-cultural alliances against dark lords. Large cast with evolving arcs mirrors Jordan's ensemble.
Similarities with the Malazan Book of the Rallen
Sprawling, multi-POV narratives with gods/daemons (ShahKharon, Krey); ancient evils (blights, serpents); grimdark wars and moral complexity (hybrid ethics, guild betrayals). Readers compare for "politics, magic, mystery, and intrigue
Differences with A Song of Ice and Fire
The Saga of Six Relams has less graphic violence/sex than Martin's; its faster pacing and fewer subplots make it more accessible but less sprawling. Excels in realm diversity (six interconnected worlds) vs. Martin's single continent focus.
Differences with the Stormlight Archives
The Saga of Six Realms series works are shorter than Sanderson's doorstoppers; magic feels more mystical (less "hard" rules). Stands out with hybrid evolutions (Moontar/slithmen) and inter-world portals, adding bio-majik horror absent in Sanderson.
Differences with The Lord of the Rings
The Saga of Six Realms has more political grit and romance than Tolkien's mythic purity; it is faster, action-oriented vs. descriptive prose. Unique hybrid monstrosities and realm-spanning invasions add modern grimdark twists.
Differences with The Wheel of Time
The Saga of Six Relms features less repetitive "braiding" plots and has a tighter series length. It excels in hybrid/sci-fi elements (portals to Tharoom/Wydren), blending fantasy with cosmic horror.
Differences with the Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Saga of Six Realms is more linear/accessible than Erikson's non-chronological style; fewer ascendant gods. It stands out with structured realms and prophecies driving plot vs. Malazan's ambiguity.