Characters first. Always. There are a few exceptions where a novel sci-fi idea can keep my attention alone. However, as real life tech increases and science fiction starts feeling less and less original or believable, I always fall back on characters. Good characters are timeless.

It’s also nice when there is thematic weaving or a strong allegorical element. The Southern Reach trilogy does that well. I haven’t finished GoT but the first book and the half of the second book had a ton of rich theming and foreshadowing where I could tell I was missing so much I’d catch onto during a second reading. 

I’m also down for some good ol fashioned schlock! An author I work with, Christopher Robertson, writes fun, nostalgic, pulpy, violent, horror books with easy to like characters. It’s not trying to be highbrow, the characters aren’t brilliant, but the book is just trying to entertain you, it doesn’t need to be smart. I feel like Michael Crichton falls into this guilty pleasure genre. 

I’ve tried auditioning for indie fantasy novels and they struggle the most with exposition. My eyes glaze over once they start going on and on with their precious world building. Oftentimes the lore is trite and self indulgent while not being seemlessly integrated to the story. George RR Martin does an excellent job weaving exposition and plot development. 

I’m more of a movie guy but all of this applies to both books and movies for me.