A good fantasy book? you know, wizards, dragons, princesses, that kind of stuff

Well I’m craving something in this genre but I’m a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. So many titles and yet I’m not sure what to read. Maybe you can help?

I’m looking for something in a high fantasy setting. I’m not too keen on heavy politics and war driven plots (though, I can read that ). What really gets me is interesting characters, good action and magical creatures.

I’ve loved anything Discworld and I’ve also enjoyed the First Law books by Abercrombie.

I’m finding that Tolkien, Sanderson and George RR Martin appear on every fantasy list I come across, so if you do recommend something I’d appreciate it be something other than that.

CylustheVirus,

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a fun fantasy heist book

The Book of Three is the first in a classic high fantasy series. It’s a lovely comfort read, but definitely targeted at younger readers.

You might consider Nix’s Abhorsen series for a unique take on Necromancers.

Foundryside is wild and fun if not a hugely traditional fantasy. Imagine if you could carve sigils on objects to make them ignore reality in very specific ways.

kyle, (edited )

I’ll add a +1 to some mentioned:

  • Cradle series - progression fantasy, basically DBZ or Naruto style progression with a magic system, intelligent beasts/dragons, demigods, etc.
  • Night Angel Trilogy - street rat turned assassin with magic. I feel like it leans pretty heavily into fantasy tropes, but they’re fun reads.
  • Kings of the Wyld - this book is fucking hilarious. The main characters are basically a kickass D&D group but it’s 20 years later, they’re old and fat, and have to go on one last epic adventure.
CylustheVirus,

Might as well mention Week’s Lightbringer series too .

Computerchairgeneral,

Lots of good recommendations here. I'll just leave some +1s for a few I've seen here that I've enjoyed.

Blacktongue Thief: A thief tries to rob the wrong warrior and gets wrapped up in a quest to a distant land besieged by giants. The first of a trilogy, but the ending gives you enough closure to be a standalone read while also setting up where the story will go. Personally, I enjoyed the first-person narration which gives you a colorful look at a somewhat non-conventional fantasy world, although it's still fantasy. If you liked Abercrombie then you might like this. There's a similar focus on flawed characters trying to do the best they can. There is some war and politics but they are firmly in the background and far from the main focus.

Legends and Lattes: A retired adventurer opens up a coffee shop in a land that has never heard of coffee. I'm not sure if "cozy fantasy" was a thing before this book, but it's been held up as an archetypal example. The plot is low-stakes and focuses on the characters and the difficulties of running a small business. Makes a good palate-cleanser between denser reads. No war or politics.

Kings of the Wyld: A retired group of adventurers has to come together for one last job after their leader's daughter ends up trapped in a city besieged by monsters. Admittedly how much you enjoy this one depends on how novel you find the idea of adventuring groups being treated as rock and roll groups. Like literally being a stand-in for rock and roll bands with groupies, managers, and all of that. I've seen some criticism that the book doesn't have much going for it beyond that which is a bit unfair. Following a bunch of middle-aged heroes past their prime was refreshing and I think the author did some interesting things with the main character who only uses a shield in combat and whose main motivation is to make it back to his wife and daughter in one piece. Very little war and politics.

Also, I don't think he's been recommended but you might want to check out Mark Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy. Admittedly it's not typical high fantasy and it is somewhat heavy on war and politics, but if you liked the grittier, grounded feel of Abercrombie then you might like it. It is arguably darker though and the main character straddles the line between dark anti-hero and outright villain protagonist for at least the first book. But it might be worth checking out if you really liked the First Law trilogy.

Zavasay, (edited )

You should get on goodreads and look up books you loved to see what else is recommended from people who also read that book. I find great ones that way!

Otherwise I absolutely could not put “Forth Wing” down by Rebecca Yarros! The second book (five are expected) comes out in a week or two. A friend recommended it and it was so good I fell into a slump afterwards trying to find something as exciting.

XBannedx,

Irene Radford The Dragon Nimbus series. I read it ages ago and have fond memories.

Sarcasmo220,

I advocate to expand people’s thinking of the fantasy genre beyond the usual Euro-centric elves, dwarves, and wizards type stuff.

As such, a fantasy book I recommend is based off of Persian magic and setting is called The Wrath and the Dawn. It is based off of the Arabian Nights legend of that region.

Well, my other recommendation is not a book because it was a web comic, BUT, it fits the fantasy genre. What makes it unique is the fantasy elements are based off of Aztec gods and magic. It is called Leyendas: www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/leyendas/list?title_no…

There is another fantasy web comic with middle eastern elements called Suihira The City of Water: www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/…/list?title_no=39385

ystael, (edited )

A few I’ve enjoyed that aren’t mentioned elsewhere so far:

  • Robin McKinley, The hero and the crown. If you’ve never read this, please, just go and do so, if you read nothing else on this entire response. The Newbery Medal it got was well deserved. (And it has princesses and dragons and wizards.)
  • Louise Cooper, Indigo (8 short books). Sealed ancient evil, cursed protagonist on heroic journey, talking animal companion. Just lots of fun all around.
  • Lois McMaster Bujold, The curse of Chalion series. Maybe a little more politics than you are looking for, but the divinity/magic system works well and I appreciate that the viewpoint characters are generally kind of old and busted. She is of course better known for the (excellent) Miles Vorkosigan military space opera series.
  • Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear, A companion to wolves et seq. Exactly what it says on the tin; the catch is that the viewpoint character of the first book becomes bonded to a female wolf, which radically changes how his culture sees him.
  • Elizabeth Moon, The deed of Paksenarrion. Basically what you’d get if you wrote down a really good D&D campaign (but mostly for only one viewpoint character). Formulaic in spots but enjoyable and well executed.

Other replies have mentioned Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos books, which I enjoyed a lot; and David (and Leigh) Eddings, which were my first big-kid fantasy novels (as for many other other American children of the 70s and 80s). Another long series in something of the same vein as Eddings is Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar saga; I haven’t read the entries after 2000, but before that it was a lot of fun.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

Thanks for the detailed response! Will keep in mind

radiantshackles,
@radiantshackles@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

Ah this book! I’ve read The Lesser Dead by the same author and was impressed with the quality. I’ve had the Blacktongue Thief in mind for a while, but I’ve heard it’s part of a trilogy and I’d rather wait for it before jumping on it. In the meantime I’ll keep Those Across the River in reserve for whenever I feel like reading about werewolves.

GlitterInfection,

Legends and Lattes might be some easy lovable reading if you’re looking for low stakes character-driven fantasy. It’s very low on action, but there is some.

A former adventuring hero orc swordsman decides to retire to open a coffee shop, collecting a cast of local misfits to help make her dreams a success. It’s light but basically D&D meets Stardew Valley if that makes sense.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

Never heard of Stardew Valley, but will keep in mind. Thanks

GlitterInfection,

You’re welcome. Hope you enjoy it if you end up checking it out!

Kit,

Have you considered Kate Elliott novels? Jaran was amazing if you like sci-fi/fantasy crossover, or King’s Dragon if you like pure fantasy. If you prefer easier reading check out the Dragonriders of Pern series.

corytheboyd,
@corytheboyd@kbin.social avatar

Mistborn is great, less dragons and more alchemical science. Begins with a satisfying tale of overthrowing the government, and then tackles some of the “okay… now what” with tons more interesting stuff along the way

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

I’ve read it an it’s not my cup of tea. The worldbuilding and premise were solid, but the characters fell flat and so did the plot by end of the book. I finished it and felt relieved it was finally over. I think I might try other authors before reading Sanderson again, that’s why I’ve listed him as a please don’t recommend.

corytheboyd,
@corytheboyd@kbin.social avatar

Sorry m8 didn’t expand the read more to see that. Good luck

fred,

Also great if you are a fan of raising a single eyebrow

ClanOfTheOcho,

I’ve heard the Wheel of Time stuff is pretty good. Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels were popular long ago, but he has sort of disappeared (I just looked him up, and he’s probably just retired). I’ve personally read the Black Cauldron books and enjoyed them quite a bit. Robert Aspirin’s Myth books can be fun. Hopefully there is something new to you in that list!

jaspersgroove, (edited )

+1 for Piers Anthony, the xanth stuff gets the most attention but he has some other good stuff, the battle circle trilogy was pretty cool

learnbyexample,
@learnbyexample@programming.dev avatar

+1 for Cradle already mentioned. I’d add

  • The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan
  • Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
CheeryLBottom,

I always upvote Riyria Revelations

OhmsLawn,

The Reyira Revelations Is great fun. Five Gods is an outstandingly well-written series.

CheeryLBottom,

Yay, Riyria Revelations! Sullivan’s books got me back into a love for Fantasy

SourDrink,

There is a book anthology called Rogues, complied by Phyllis Eisenstein. It is a compilation of short stories from various writers across many disciplines. While there is a lot of different stories, they all come back to a character who is deceitful in character you can’t help but root for them a bit.

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