Hello everyone,

I'm in desperate need of some seriously good books, but I just don't know where to start. I've read The Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, The House of Night by P.C and Kristin Cast, and of coures Harry Potter and Twilight. Now I know what kind of books I prefer. First of all I'm looking for series books. I just hate it when a good book ends and there's no follow up. I'm really interested in books similar to The Inheritance. I like the Dragon and Elven tales. I also started reading Wicked Lovely and I think that the faery world is pretty cool too. So enough babbling, this is what I'm looking for. I need a good book series, focused on something intense, like a war or saving a race; I need a little romance but nothing that revolves around it completely, and I need it to be captivating, as well as well written, in other words I need an experience writer. Any suggestions would be great. And if you have something that isn't quite what I'm looking for but you think it will knock my socks off then write about it too. Thanks, Lauren.

Hey Lauren...what comes to mind on reading your needs is Griffin's Daughter by Leslie Ann Moore. She's a member of this group. This book is the first in a series and I enjoyed it very much when I read it for the group read earlier this year.

Hey Lauren,

Might I recommend the following - good characters, a very interesting system of magic, a little romance, and a great effort to save a number of races.

The first thing that comes to mind for dagon and elven tales is 'The Dragonlance Chronicles' by Weis and Hickman - probably because I just read the graphic novels versions recently. Speaking of series - if you like the original trilogy, then the series continues with something like 20+ more books from different timeframes and perspectives and whatnot. It starts with Dragons of Autumn Twilight, I believe.

There's also the Legend of Drizzt series, by R.A. Salvatore.

A series that I like that doesn't have dragons or elves but does have the whole good/evil epicness and intensity are the Chronicles of the Necromancer by Gail Z. Martin, starting with The Summoner Book One in the Chronicles of the Necromancer. Three books are out so far, with a fourth coming. Not sure how long the series intends to go on, tho.

In a similar vein is The Abhorsen Trilogy, starting with Sabriel. Again, no dragons or elves, but big good/evil battleness. (And I seem to have a thing for necromancers... )

Lastly, in the vein of Wicked Lovely, I quite enjoyed the Modern Faerie Tale trilogy by Holly Black, starting with Tithe A Modern Faerie Tale.

I would say that with your previous fantasy selections, I would wholeheartedly second the Legend of Drizzt series by R.A. Salvatore. The series has oh, 13 or so books, and it will keep you occupied for a while. There is also a spinoff but related series called The Cleric Quintet that is about another more minor character that you will encounter in the Drizzt books.

When you decide that you want a "harder" fantasy read, I need to definitely recommend Tolkein's Lord of the Rings (trilogy) and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (Book 1 is The Eye of the World). If you don't want to reread to figure out the series, I would recommend actually taking notes when reading Jordan's books. I will caution you, though, that the series is not finished yet. The last book was split into three parts, the first of which, The Gathering Storm, is being released in October 2009 (I think).

There are lots of good fantasy series out there. Just pick up an author and go with it!

If you love dragons and elves, then I recommend the Halfblood Chronicles by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey. They came up with a unique take on both dragons and elves. The first book is The Elvenbane. However, I have to warn you this series was never completed because of Andre Norton passing away, but they are still very good.

The Wayfarer Redemption. It is a serie with romance, races, beautiful!

If I might wade in...

No epic fantasy library, which likes elves, dwarves and dragons, is complete without Tolkien's main works, namely The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion (in that order). Those books can easily be added to with Unfinished Tales, The Children of Hurin, and if you are particularly scholarly, The History of Middle Earth.

Newer recommendations of epic, high fantasy (meaning magic and mythical races, etc.) The Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts is at eight huge volumes, with three yet to come (no. 9 is almost finished in manuscript). Lots of magic, mystical races (though they are in the background), and a good romance story (not an L.K.H. orgy). Dragons, by book 8, nasty creatures, and a different, multi-layered systems of magic.

Other recommendations would be Katherine Kerr's Deverry series (about 12 books, and I think the last one is out now), the Deryni series by Kurtz, Terry Brooks' Shannara stuff (lots of races, and lots of books), Raymond Feist's Midkemia series (many, many books, and his Empire trilogy with Janny Wurts is the best thereof). Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry has everything that you mentioned, and he is one of the best lyrical/romantic writers going.

For harder, more graphic stuff, G.R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen (very bloody, but loads of magic and strange races).

This is the tip of the iceberg. There is loads of stuff, and probably better than what you have read already.

Elise wrote: "If you love dragons and elves, then I recommend the Halfblood Chronicles by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey. They came up with a unique take on both dragons and elves. The first book is [book:The ..."

If your speaking of the book series I think you are then an old teacher of mine use to read them and said that his son or someone was thinking of finishing the series. Sad that the author passed. But the series that he was speaking of was super long.

Lauren wrote: "If your speaking of the book series I think you are then an old teacher of mine use to read them and said that his son or someone was thinking of finishing the series. Sad that the author passed. But the series that he was speaking of was super long."

I think that would be a different series - the Halfblood Chronicles are only 3 books.

For series recommendations, I also recommend the Deverry series by Katharine Kerr. From what you've said, I also think you'd like the Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson and the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.

Happy reading!

If you haven't already, check out J.R.R. Tolkien's Work. (The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin, The Hobbit Or There and Back Again, The Lord of the Rings)

As Blackrose and Kathy suggested, The Legend of Drizzt Series by R.A. Salvatore(Starting with Homeland) is a great series if you like fast paced action with a subtle hint of romance. The cast of characters are fantastic.

I can't help but mention a new favorite of mine: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. While it doesn't have your elves it does have some amazing characters and is eloquently written so it does not read like an author's first book.

I hope you find what your looking for and if you do suggest some to me!

:]

The Belgariad series by David Eddings

Lauren wrote: "Hello everyone,

I'm in desperate need of some seriously good books, but I just don't know where to start. I've read The Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra C..."

Don't know if dragons are your thing or not, but The Age of Fire series by e.e. knight is excellent! There are 4, so far, with the 5th due in December - Dragon Champion, Dragon Avenger, Dragon Outcast, Dragon Strike and Dragon Rule. Plenty of 'war', fighting, etc

I quite enjoyed The Crown Conspiracy. And The Princess Bride... loved. If you want a copy of my book, The Wheel of Nuldoid, just lemme know. I'll see that they send you a free copy.
Russ
www.Nuldoid.com

Hi Lauren,

I just saw an email on a yahoo group from an aunt looking for books for her niece, and I recommended DFF Dead Friends Forever to her. It's a great story, Buffy-esque but darker, about a young girl whose psychic powers are woken up by a desperate ghost in a haunted house. She needs help to escape an evil spirit in the same house that's been tormenting it for a century. Pretty spooky. I was reading it at night and actually got creeped out for a second when the motel I was in made some little noise, as motel rooms will. It made Jenny (the author)very happy when I told her that.

I would also hope you'll check out my own books, The Flame in the Bowl Unbinding the Stone and A Warrior Made.

I'll second Dragonlance and Drizzt. Any of the Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms novels should have some of what you are looking for.

You might also check out the Mithgar series by Dennis L. McKiernan. LIke Terry Brooks, his first entry was a take off of LOTR, but he progressed way beyond that. The series is made up of stand alone, triologies, and duologies; all of which take place in the same world at different times. He also has a fairy tale series out; which is not as good.

There is the Dresden Files. It's about wizard who investigates crimes.

Kelley Armstrong has The Women of the Otherworld series, as well as a series for teens. The women are witches, werewolves, vampires, demons.

You might also try Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (she has a series with elves and a series based on fairy tales), or Mercedes Lackey. Lackey has several series; her most famous being Valdemar, but she also did a series about Diana Tergarde, a parnomal investigator.

If you bad elves, you should check out The Fey series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. The elves are somewhat the bad guys.