To say it upfront, the series is not perfect. But what in this world is? I think the first four books are better than the last three because for one, they were written under less pressure (some aspects of the later books needed a little bit polishing), and two, in a way the last three books are less self-contained than the first four and more part of a long arc.
But what makes the story so good?
1. A really creative world. You can read all the books multiple times and you will notice stuff which might slipped because you read them, but didn't really think about it.
2. Some really well plotted mysteries, which you can solve for yourself if you pay attention, but usually don't because the author just slipped an important detail by you.
3. Really well done characters! Nobody in those books is perfect, everyone is allowed to make wrong decisions.
Thus said: Read the books before you watch the movies! You otherwise ruin a great experience for yourself.
Deserves every bit of its fame
To say it upfront, the series is not perfect. But what in this world is? I think the first four books are better than the last three because for one, they were written under less pressure (some aspects of the later books needed a little bit polishing), and two, in a way the last three books are less self-contained than the first four and more part of a long arc.
But what makes the story so good?
1. A really creative world. You can read all the books multiple times and you will notice stuff which might slipped because you read them, but didn't really think about it.
2. Some really well plotted mysteries, which you can solve for yourself if you pay attention, but usually don't because the author just slipped an important detail by you.
3. Really well done characters! Nobody in those books is perfect, everyone is allowed to make wrong decisions.
Thus said: Read the books before you watch the movies! You otherwise ruin a great experience for yourself.