I have agree with wicked woman.
While I enjoyed the Belgariad series, I found that Eddings was too deeply entrenched with the "kitchen-boy" genre for me to keep coming back as a regular.
That being said, "kitchen-boy" or as I sometimes refer to this style of writing "bubble-gum fantasy" certainly has a place. At times I actively seek out something light and fun filled. There is something very filling about watching a young boy grow up and getting involved with wizards and warriors far beyond his own tiny farm world.
It all depends on what kind of mood you're in. So many types of fantasy, for so many types of moods. Cheers.

