/lit/ - Literature

I'm looking for something a little more relaxed and worldbuilding/environment focused than most of the epic fantasy series - sort of like what the Ghibli movies are to most anime.
Preferably something warm and sunny. I read the Inda series, and it fit the bill pretty well - lots of boats and seaside cities.

What's the comfiest, most relaxing series you've ever read?

Started reading The Sword of Truth series yesterday.
It's been pretty bad from the start, but not bad enough to make me put the book down until I reached the Mord Sith part.
It's just too boring, I can't take it anymore.

The way I see it, there are two types of shitty writers.
One, the author isn't a good enough writer to communicate his story effectively - and as the series goes on, he improves and so the story improves.
Two, the author is just bad at writing stories, and no amount of practice will change that.

So I'm wondering which one of those this is.
Is it worth wading through this unreadable garbage for some eventual payoff, or am I just wasting my time?

I just want another long series like Wheel or Malazan where the characters aren't blatantly retarded. Is that too much to ask?

>>8227982
Basically, what I'm looking for is something that contrasts a grounded futuristic world with mystical elements, a complex large-scale plot with deeply personal character moments, and an understanding of harsh realities with unabashed optimism.

What I'm getting at is that I've watched Gundam Unicorn too many times and want to feel like less of a pathetic weeb by reading a book with a similar feel.