Michelle Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'm looking for some help from our lovely fantasy specialists. Over the past couple of years I have loved The Painted Man and The Desert Spear by Peter V Brett, Dragon Keeper and Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb, and The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (not quite finished). I think I've liked these because there's been something new and unique about them (well, to me, at least, as I haven't read that many ) as well as being set in a familiar but different world. So, can anyone suggest something similar for me to try next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodyNine Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Hi Michelle, Apart from the ones that you have mentioned above (awesome by the way) I enjoyed The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist, and The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. I have heard some great things about Patrick Rothfuss, and apparently his books are styled like Peter V Bretts. I hope this helps, and have a wonderful weekend. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 (edited) I'd highly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay, Michelle, particularly 'The Lions of Al-Rassan', 'A Song for Arbonne', 'Sailing to Sarantium'/'Lord of Emperors' and 'Tigana'. They're historical fantasy. Not a huge amount of magic in them, just brilliant characters, wonderfully written. I'd go along with BloodyNine and recommend Feist's 'Magician' (although it would be just that one book for me, wasn't keen on the follow-up). I'd say that, unless you want to suffer the frustrations the rest of us are putting up with, stay away from George RR Martin (even though the first and third books in his series are among the best fantasy books ever written, imo). I'd go along with Abercrombie's 'First Law' trilogy, too, although it is more in the 'heroic' fantasy genre than the books you have mentioned. In a similar vein, David Gemmell is the master - try 'Waylander' or 'Legend'. He writes brilliant characters. Ooh, and Anne McAffrey, too (although her 'Pern' books could just as easily fall under science fiction as fantasy). If you fancy more urban fantasy, try China Mieville's 'Perdido Street Station', or Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere'. I'll throw in Jim Butcher's 'Dresden Files' books, too. They take a couple of books to get going, but they're tremendous fun. You know what I'm going to say next (it would've been at the top of the post but I wanted to be unpredictable ... ): if you fancy a real challenge, a truly original take on the genre set in a world with its own millennia-spanning history, unique races, characters, magic, then give Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' series a whirl. You might be like Poppyshake and not get into it but it's worth a try. Six out of the ten books in the series rank among my all-time faves. I'll let someone else talk about Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, Jack Vance, Janny Wurts et al as I haven't read enough of them to really judge. Oh, and avoid Terry Goodkind like the plague ETA: I should, of course, have mentioned David Eddings' 'Belgariad'. It was responsible for starting me on the fantasy genre 30+ years ago. Also, I have to mention Bernard Cornwell's take on the Arthurian legend, 'The Warlord Chronicles' (starting with 'The Winter King'), which are just fabulous. Edited March 9, 2012 by Karsa Orlong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Hi Michelle, Apart from the ones that you have mentioned above (awesome by the way) I enjoyed The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist, and The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. I have heard some great things about Patrick Rothfuss, and apparently his books are styled like Peter V Bretts. Thank you! I shall take a look at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 I'd highly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay, Michelle, particularly 'The Lions of Al-Rassan', 'A Song for Arbonne', 'Sailing to Sarantium'/'Lord of Emperors' and 'Tigana'. They're historical fantasy. Not a huge amount of magic in them, just brilliant characters, wonderfully written. Ok, I shall take a look. I'd go along with BloodyNine and recommend Feist's 'Magician' (although it would be just that one book for me, wasn't keen on the follow-up). I'd say that, unless you want to suffer the frustrations the rest of us are putting up with, stay away from George RR Martin (even though the first and third books in his series are among the best fantasy books ever written, imo). I've already decided to avoid that series - I don't think I have enough time! Magician.. I'm sure I've looked at that one, and didn't reallt fancy it. I'd go along with Abercrombie's 'First Law' trilogy, too, although it is more in the 'heroic' fantasy genre than the books you have mentioned. In a similar vein, David Gemmell is the master - try 'Waylander' or 'Legend'. He writes brilliant characters. Ooh, and Anne McAffrey, too (although her 'Pern' books could just as easily fall under science fiction as fantasy). I think it's the heroic ones I'm so keen on. David Gemmel rings a bell.. I may have tried something of his a few years back. I'll look through amazon later and see if anything looks familiar. If you fancy more urban fantasy, try China Mieville's 'Perdido Street Station', or Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere'. I'll throw in Jim Butcher's 'Dresden Files' books, too. They take a couple of books to get going, but they're tremendous fun. I did like Neverwhere, although I've not liked any of his others. You know what I'm going to say next (it would've been at the top of the post but I wanted to be unpredictable ... ): if you fancy a real challenge, a truly original take on the genre set in a world with its own millennia-spanning history, unique races, characters, magic, then give Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' series a whirl. You might be like Poppyshake and not get into it but it's worth a try. Six out of the ten books in the series rank among my all-time faves. Again, I'll take a look. ETA: I should, of course, have mentioned David Eddings' 'Belgariad'. It was responsible for starting me on the fantasy genre 30+ years ago. Also, I have to mention Bernard Cornwell's take on the Arthurian legend, 'The Warlord Chronicles' (starting with 'The Winter King'), which are just fabulous. Eddings.. that also sounds familiar. Did he write one with his wife, about a sword? I remember really liking that one, but it was years ago. Wow - that's given me a lot to think about, I'll let you know when I've taken a better look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Eddings.. that also sounds familiar. Did he write one with his wife, about a sword? I remember really liking that one, but it was years ago. Yes, his wife gets equal credit on their later books, but she wasn't named on the earlier ones even though she was apparently just as involved. Can't believe I didn't mention Tim Powers' 'The Anubis Gates' - that's another one well worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 The Eddings one was The Redemption of Althalus, and I loved Faerie Tale by Feist. I'll look at the others later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 The Eddings one was The Redemption of Althalus That was actually the last book of theirs that I read, and was the worst, so if you liked that you will love The Belgariad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil1980 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 if you like fantasy but mixed with fantastic humour I would recommend the Disc World series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ink92 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Anything by Brandon Sanderson is worth reading if your looking for well developed fantasy series. I would also recommend the Graceling series. Its not an epic fantasy but it does have an intriguing concept and enough plot twists and mysteries to make it well worth reading. I usually look for fantasy novels with cross over genres. I like to think of fantasy like sugar, everyone loves something sweet but that doesn't mean you want to eat it by the spoonful, but mix it with other elements though and you end up with the perfect desert:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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