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Published on February 17, 2022 16:39

November 19, 2021

8 Lesser Known Bestselling YA Epic Fantasy Books for November 2021

Bestselling YA Epic Fantasy Books that make it to the top of the charts are easy to find. Authors, publishers, and booksellers usually market them very well, and your friends often heartily recommend them to you.

They’re hard to miss.

But what if you’ve read all the popular epic fantasy books you’re interested in? (Is that even possible??) Maybe it’s time to find something new, something less popular that’s still getting great reviews.

Here’s a short list of eight epic fantasy titles (found on bestseller lists in November 2021) that you might not have heard of. Some of the authors might be familiar to you, but some are new. Some of these bestselling YA epic fantasy books are published by traditional publishing companies and some are by indie authors.

All of them are epic fantasy in the best sense of the genre: they’re set in a world completely different from our own and they’re full of adventure, battles, heroes and villains. The plots tend to have complex, world-changing implications. And of course, there’s magic.

November 2021 Giveaway
Everyone on our mailing list as of November 30, 2021 will be entered into a draw to win a print edition of one the fantasy books mentioned in this blog post (max. value $20 USD).

We Hunt the Flame

by Hafsah Faizal

Okay, you might have heard of this one. It’s hard to get listed as a TIME Magazine Top 100 Fantasy Book of All Time and not get noticed by readers. But this is an epic fantasy set not in a European medieval influenced world but an ancient Arabian influenced world.

Basic plot:

Every day, Zafira disguises herself as a man to go out and hunt in a dangerous forest in order to help feed her people. Until one day, the Silver Witch presents her with a quest to bring long-forbidden magic back to her people. She accepts the task but is tracked by the Sultan’s son, Nasir, who must kill her and steal the magical artifact Zafira seeks.

“Lyrical and filled with adventure, a slow-burn romance, and an unforgettable cast of characters in a world based on ancient Arabia, this is a debut series not to be missed.” —School Library Journal

Sky in the Deep

by Adrienne Young

This Viking-inspired epic fantasy tells the story of seventeen-year-old Eelyn, a young warrior who fights rival clans.

Basic plot:

When a a ruthless clan thought to be a legend threatens all other clans, Eelyn and her brother’s friend, Fiske, have to unite the clans if any of them hope to survive.

“Drawing on Viking history and lore, debut author Young crafts an exciting, at times heart-wrenching story centered around 17-year-old Eelyn, her Aska clan, and their centuries-old war with the Riki…Young’s often poetic writing forms a stark juxtaposition with her vivid descriptions of battle and bloodshed, creating a clear picture of the brutality of war.” —Publishers Weekly

The Traitor’s Son

by Pedro Urvi

Basic plot:

This clean, epic fantasy features seventeen-year-old Lasgol, who wants to redeem the honor of his Ranger father, the man who betrayed the kingdom and tried to kill the King. To do so, he enters the School of Rangers, a secret training center where the defenders of the kingdom are trained for four years.

“Epic fantasy full of adventure, action, magic, mystery and some romance for all ages.”

Vortex Visions

by Elise Kova

You might be familiar with this author’s popular Air Awakens series, but maybe not this series based in that universe.

Basic plot:

Vi Solaris is a princess who must choose between doing what’s expected of her by claiming the throne and abandoning those expectations to use her gift of forbidden magic to rescue her people from a plague and political infighting.

Note: you can read this series without having read the Air Awakens series.

“New readers and old fans alike will love this heart-stopping, emotional adventure.” —The Reading Faery

The Shadows Between Us

by Tricia Levenseller

Basic plot:

In this villain-as-hero epic fantasy, Alessandra plots to take over the kingdom by wooing the Shadow King, marrying him, then killing him so she can rule.

“Alessandra is hardly likable—she is cunning and deceitful, and she loves to toy with others—yet readers will root for her.” —School Library Journal

The Buried Symbol

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

Basic plot:

Here’s a zero-to-hero fantasy adventure complete with magic, mystery, and monsters. The protagonist, Brock, wields a forbidden magic and weasels his way into a school where the Empire’s future leaders are trained. There, he must control his powers or they will destroy him.

“A hidden gem amongst an array of great fantasy books.” —Observant Raven

The Mortal Blade

by Christopher Mitchell

Basic plot:

This is the beginning of a lengthy epic fantasy series set in a city ruled by the gods. The tale that brings together the seemingly different stories of Corthie, a champion fighter who helps defend the city against the Greenhides (creepy monsters); Maddie, a young defender who is given a task that leads her to face a dragon.

Be prepared for a long, multi-book series which means you might find book one a bit slow or confusing as the author establishes the characters and the world. But most readers of the series agree that it’s worth the effort. And keep in mind that this is only one series set in the Magellan’s universe. So, if you enjoy the world and the characters (and, of course, the writing style), you’ll have a long reading journey ahead of you.

Fatemarked

by David Estes

This is book one in The Fatemarked Epic (at least five books).

Basic plot:

The fatemarked are the prophesied chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in war. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life. But a powerful evil force is coming and he can no longer hide.

“David Estes gives us a broad range of characters in, shall we say, complex situations. Halfway through the first book, I thought I knew where it was going and how the series would conclude. By the end of Fatemarked, I realized I had no idea where this thing was going and I loved it! If you’re tired of paint-by-the-numbers fantasy, then strap into Fatemarked and hold on for the ride.” —AC Cobble, bestselling fantasy author

More Bestselling YA Epic Fantasy Books

Of course, we have to mention our very our Maidstone Chronicles. Although not set entirely in another world, most of the story takes place in the Fourwinds. And it is truly an epic adventure!

If you’ve discovered a lesser known but well-loved epic fantasy book, please comment below.

The post 8 Lesser Known Bestselling YA Epic Fantasy Books for November 2021 appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight

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Published on November 19, 2021 14:32

October 13, 2021

Fantasy Books with an Autumn Theme

When people think of fantasy books with an autumn theme or setting, they naturally—or inevitably—turn to scary stories with Hallowe’en settings.

But what if you’re feeling inundated with creepy tales during the fall season and you just want to escape that scene? What if you want an adventure set in the fall season without the obvious Hallowe’en or horror elements?

Maybe you simply want to cozy up in a wool sweater with a hot drink and a book in front of a nice fire. It could be that your imagination is calling you out of the cold and rain and into the warmth and mystery of a local inn where you can grab a mulled wine or a mug of ale, shake the wet leaves from your travel cloak and join some friends (and strangers) near a stone fireplace as the local bard weaves an epic tale of adventure.

Here are a few fantasy stories that will take you to such a place—or at least give you that cozy, mysterious fall feeling—on a dark and stormy autumn night.

A good place to begin is with the first book in the Weis and Hickman classic Dragonlance Chronicles, Dragons of Autumn Twilight. In fact, you’ll begin about forty feet off the ground, nestled in the shadows of the vallenwood, at the Inn of the Last Home.

From the book description:

“Once merely creatures of legend, the dragons have returned to Krynn. But with their arrival comes the departure of the old gods—and all healing magic. As war threatens to engulf the land, lifelong friends reunite for an adventure that will change their lives and shape their world forever…”

The Name of the Wind

If it’s a tale of adventure you’re seeking on a cool autumn evening, you’ll find one of the best at the Waystone Inn, the opening setting for The Name of the Wind. If you’ve grown tired of classic fantasy, Patrick Rothfuss’ tale (and its sequel The Wise Man’s Fear) could be the spark that reignites that old flame.

From the book description:

“It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.”

The Sword of Shannara

Many fantasy readers say that they love to re-read classics like The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit every autumn. Those books definitely feel like a dark, fall journey. If you’re looking for something similar yet a bit more contemporary, you might venture into Terry Brooks’ Shannara Chronicles. True, 1977 (The Sword of Shannara) is not really contemporary but more so than 1954 (The Lord of the Rings)

Book one, The Sword of Shannara, opens on what feels like a cool autumn evening (although it’s actually summer) in the safety of the Ohmsford family’s inn in Shady Vale. It’s the classic setting to begin a fantastic adventure series that finally concluded with The Last Druid in 2020.

From the book description:

“Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil ruined the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. But the supposedly dead Warlock Lord is plotting to destroy everything in his wake.The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, which can be used only by a trueheir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline,rests the hope of all the races.”

Uprooted

If the classic inn-on-a-stormy-night tale is not what you’re looking for but you like the idea of a quiet village opening, you might consider what many consider a modern classic fantasy: Uprooted by Naomi Novik. The story’s main character, Agnieszka, has come to the end of her last summer with her best friend, Kasia, and her unexpected tale begins.

From the book description:

“The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.”

The Night Circus

As I was researching fantasy books with an autumn theme, one modern title that kept surfacing was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. For good reason, I think. As the days grow shorter and nightfall comes earlier, it’s a great opportunity to enter Le Cirque des Rêves that “Opens at Nightfall, Closes at Dawn.”

From the book description:

“Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves. Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is underway – a contest between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in “a game,” in which each must use their powers of illusion to best the other.”

First Frost

Moving away from classic epic fantasy but toward magical realism, you might consider something a bit lighter. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen has been called “a perfect read for Autumn” with “a touch of magic.”

From the book description:

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells, lose yourself in Sarah Addison Allen’s enchanting world and fall for her charmed characters in this captivating story that proves that a happily-ever-after is never the real ending to a story. It’s where the real story begins.”

The Graveyard Book

I hesitated to include this final book because I am intentionally avoiding traditional Hallowe’en or scary stories. Some people call Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book “creepy” and perhaps even a Hallowe’en classic. And I agree. But I didn’t realize that it’s much more than that until I read the final lines of the story (warning: if you like to start at the end of a book, resist the urge with this one because I fear you might lose the conclusion’s impact if you haven’t read the entire story).

Call it creepy or dark, The Graveyard Book is definitely one to be enjoyed in autumn. I agree with Booklist’s review: “There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming….this is a rich story with broad appeal.”

From the book description:

“Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead.”

More non-spooky fantasy books with an autumn theme

This collection of fantasy books with an autumn theme is a bit eclectic, but understandably so in a genre filled with so many dark stories. And I get it. Many readers enjoy a good scary story and even more so around Hallowe’en. But it seems to me there’s room for great autumn themed stories that don’t equate the darkness and changing season with evil and fear.

I hope to expand this collection someday. Let me know if you have any suggested books that might fit this category.

The post Fantasy Books with an Autumn Theme appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

The Falconer: Book One of the Falconer Trilogy

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Published on October 13, 2021 13:57

July 15, 2021

11 New Fantasy Books Set in Alternate Versions of Our World

When asked why they spend so much time with their noses—not to mention hearts, minds, and souls—buried in a good book, many readers will tell you that it provides a way of escape from their “real world.”

Some genres provide readers the opportunity to escape to another part of the world or to experience life in a protagonist’s shoes. Readers of fantasy and science fiction usually escape to entirely new worlds.

At certain times in human history, people long to escape the “real world” not just because they had a rough day at the office. Sometimes life is unbearably hard. You’re blindsided by family tragedy. Your doctor gives you unexpected test results. Sometimes it’s broader. Your country is at war. Or the entire planet is battling a deadly disease, forcing the total lockdown of economies.

At the time of writing, the world has been battling COVID-19 for well over a year. In the face of lockdowns and temporary lay-offs, people who were fortunate enough not to get sick huddled safely at home. Many escaped in books.

In fact, book sales for 2020 were much higher than the previous few years and almost as high as 2008 and 2009 (another challenging period for many people). During troubled times, many people join regular, avid readers to escape in books.

With recent talk of emerging from pandemic lockdown, people are starting to think about traveling again. If you’re in that place, you might already have a destination you’ve been dreaming of. If not, why not look to your favorite fantasy books for inspiration?

New global fantasy books to inspire world travel

Classic epic fantasy stories invite us to travel to imaginary worlds. In portal fantasy and crossword fantasy we travel from our world to another fantastical world. Urban fantasy tales feature imaginary beings and magic systems set in our world. In other fantasy sub-genres, the lines are blurred.

We’ve collected a sampling of recent fantasy books set in alternate versions of our world. Some are obvious in their setting; others merely allude to geographical places we know. None of them are set in entirely imaginary worlds like Middle Earth, Narnia, Westeros…Wait, those are imaginary worlds, right?

This list is by no means exhaustive. We’ve tried to follow a few simple guidelines:

Include lesser-known titles.Focus on books published in the past 5-10 years.Balance the list to include alternate reality settings around the globe.

July 2021 Giveaway
Everyone on our mailing list as of July 31, 2021 will be entered into a draw to win a print edition of one the fantasy books mentioned in this blog post (max. value $20 USD).

The Girl from Everywhere

Our list begins with the possibility of traveling anywhere…or everywhere!

From the cover:

Nix has spent her entire life aboard her father’s ship, sailing across the centuries, across the world, across myth and imagination. With the right map, her father can sail to any time, any place, real or imagined: nineteenth-century China, the land from One Thousand and One Nights, a mythic version of Africa. But the end looms closer every day.

Her father is obsessed with obtaining a map of Honolulu that can take him back to his lost love, Nix’s mother. Even though going there could erase Nix’s very existence. For the first time, Nix is entering unknown waters. She could find herself, find her family, find her own fantastical ability, her own epic love.

Or she could disappear.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

by Elizabeth May

We begin our journey around the alternate version of the globe with a steampunk novel set in an alternate 19th-century Scotland.

From the cover:

Edinburgh, 1844. Beautiful Aileana Kameron only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. In fact, she’s spent the year since her mother died developing her ability to sense the presence of Sithichean, a faery race bent on slaughtering humans. She has a secret mission: to destroy the faery who murdered her mother. But when she learns she’s a Falconer, the last in a line of female warriors and the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity, her quest for revenge gets a whole lot more complicated.

The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller blends romance and action with steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

by Leslye Walton

This story takes us from the UK and begins in France where Ava’s great-grandmother emigrates to New York. The next generation (Ava’s grandmother) moves to Seattle. There begins Ava’s fantastic adventure.

Brief Description:

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava — in all other ways a normal girl — is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

First Earth: A Clean Teen Fantasy Adventure

by Cami Murdock Jensen

Before we leave North America, we want to include this wonderful story that begins in Boston.

We cannot stop recommending the Arch Mage series. This portal fantasy is a fun, endearing coming-of-age adventure featuring a brave young protagonist living with physical disabilities and emotional scars.

Brief Description:

Sixteen-year-old Agnes Ann Cavanaugh hates mirrors and herself. Horribly disfigured as a baby and constantly battling chronic pain, she trusts only two people: her mom and the blind author who offered her an internship. But as she’s translating an ancient tablet for him, she triggers an attack by terrifying monsters that catapults her into an enchanted realm.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

Woven in Moonlight

by Isabel Ibañez

From USA, we head to South America in this fantasy world influenced by Bolivian politics and history.

Brief Description:

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

The Astonishing Color of After

by Emily X.R. Pan

Crossing the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, we travel to Taiwan in this “heartbreaking novel about grief, love, and family.”

Brief Description:

Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.

Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet hermaternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined tofind her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing afterghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship withher grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secretcrush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

Black Water Sister

by Zen Cho

This urban fantasy follows Jessamyn Teoh, a “reluctant medium” who travels to her ancestral home of Malaysia.

Brief Description:

When Jessamyn Teoh starts hearing a voice in her head, she chalks it up to stress. Closeted, broke and jobless, she’s moving back to Malaysia with her parents – a country she last saw when she was a toddler.

She soon learns the new voice isn’t even hers, it’s the ghost of her estranged grandmother. In life, Ah Ma was a spirit medium, avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she’s determined to settle a score against a business magnate who has offended the god—and she’s decided Jess is going to help her do it, whether Jess wants to or not.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

Vigil: Verity Fassbinder Book 1

by Angela Slatter

This urban fantasy takes us to Brisbane, Australia in the first supernatural crime adventure featuring Verity Fassbinder.

Brief Description:

The daughter of one human and one Weyrd parent, she has very little power herself, but does claim unusual strength and the ability to walk between one world and the other as a couple of her talents. A rarity, she is charged with keeping the peace, and ensuring the Weyrd remain hidden.

But now Sirens are dying, illegal wine made from the tears of human children is for sale – and in the hands of those who hold to old, dangerous ways – and someone has released an unknown and terrifyingly destructive force on the streets of Brisbane.

Verity must investigate, or risk ancient forces carving the world apart.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

Night Watch

by Sergei Lukyanenko

From Brisbane to the streets of Moscow, Russia.

Brief Description:

Set in contemporary Moscow, the Night Watch series tells the story of the Others, an ancient race of magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and other supernatural beings that live among us, and swear allegiance to either the powers of Darkness, or the forces of Light.

With darkly comic style and a plot that’s equal parts urban fantasy, spy thriller, and chess match, Night Watch will keep readers hooked until the last page, and eager for more.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

A Master of Djinn

by P. Djèlí Clark

Next, we travel to an alternate version of early twentieth-century Cairo, Egypt in this exciting steampunk novel.

Brief Description:

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world forty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

Everfair

by Nisi Shawl

Finally, we end our fantasy alternate world tour in Africa with a re-imagined steampunk Congo. This debut novel dares to imagine an alternate global history.

Brief Description:

What if the African natives developed steam power ahead of their colonial oppressors? What might have come of Belgium’s disastrous colonization of the Congo if the native populations had learned about steam technology a bit earlier?

Shawl’s speculative masterpiece manages to turn one of the worst human rights disasters on record into a marvelous and exciting exploration of the possibilities inherent in a turn of history. Everfair is told from a multiplicity of voices: Africans, Europeans, East Asians, and African Americans in complex relationships with one another, in a compelling range of voices that have historically been silenced. Everfair is not only a beautiful book but an educational and inspiring one that will give the reader new insight into an often ignored period of history.

Find it on Amazon | Find it at a local bookstore

More Fantasy Books Set in Alternate Versions of Our World

What fantasy books have inspired you to travel (either literally or literarily)?

The post 11 New Fantasy Books Set in Alternate Versions of Our World appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

The Word for World is Forest

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Published on July 15, 2021 16:40

June 24, 2021

13 Books About Magical Forests with Captivating Covers

Books about magical forests have captured the imaginations of fantasy authors and readers for generations. You probably don’t need to think for long before a few of your personal favorites come to mind.

There’s a long history of classic tales involving forests and mythical trees. Some authors include forests as a background setting. Some will add a mysterious or even dark element to the forest in their story. Others make the forest (or a specific tree) a key magical component.

Have you ever wondered why so many fantasy books include magical forests and/or trees? Are authors simply compelled to follow in the footsteps of famous fantasy authors like J.R.R. Tolkien? Are they trying to evoke the timeless appeal of classic fairy tales? Or maybe there are deeper reasons for the continued popularity of books about magical forests.

If you take time to explore the history of the fantasy genre, you’ll soon discover both the ubiquity and importance of trees and forests. And for good reason. Trees play an important role in many cultures—from the food and resources they supply to the stories they tell all the way back to creation narratives.

Consider the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for example, in the creation narrative of Judaism and Christianity; the Bodhi tree beneath which the Buddha reached enlightenment; or Yggdrasill, the World Tree that connects the universe from Norse mythology. These are but a few examples that are deeply ingrained in human culture. It’s no surprise that such narratives find their way into fantasy fiction.

This huge topic is beyond the scope of this blog post, but if you’re interested, there is an excellent 3-part study on the fantasy-faction.com website that explores Trees as Symbol, Trees as Characters, and Trees as Setting.

Briefly, here are some examples in popular fantasy books with trees as magical characters:

Old Man Willow (and also the trees of Fangorn Forest) in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings The One Tree in Stephen R. Donaldson’s The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant seriesThe Summer Tree in Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry seriesThe Cthaeh in Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles The Ellcrys in Terry Brooks’ Shannara seriesAvendesora in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time seriesThe Weirwood trees in George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones seriesThe Whomping Willow in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series

The list goes on (feel free to add more in the comments below). The sheer volume of books about magical forests is staggering.

In our own Maidstone Chronicles, the Arden Forest serves as a magical portal through which Will and Morgan enter the fantastical world of the Fourwinds. There they travel through the Epping Forest and eventually pass through the edges of the massive, mysterious and forbidding forest known as the Hollowtangle, home of the ancient Druid Forest as well as the Maidstone tower itself.

Why are there so many books about magical forests and trees?

Human cultures have lived among and depended on trees since the beginning of human life. We are deeply connected. The more high-tech our lives become and the more time we spend in urban settings, the more we long for the simplicity, the mystery, and the wildness of the woods. And the more we cut down and consume our forests—especially the ancient trees—the more separated from the natural world we become. We lose our way in the city and we long to reconnect with the history, wisdom, and mystical quality of the woods. Books about magical forests help us reconnect.

In her excellent article, “Into the Wild Woods: On the Significance of Trees and Forests in Fantasy Fiction,” Weronika Łaszkiewicz writes:

“Arguably, fantasy fiction is the contemporary means through which writers can recapture the perilous forests of fairy stories and allow modern readers, often disconnected from nature, to experience the transformative dread of a venture into the heart of the wild woods.”

“The transformative dread.” What a great phrase. When was the last time you ventured into the woods and paid attention to the wild world surrounding you? It can certainly be transformative if you let it. Great stories with trees as primary characters or simply as a setting for an adventurous protagonist help us recapture a sense of adventure stirring within us. The forest can be a place of transformation and reconnection with nature, ourselves, and maybe even the divine.

Sometimes portrayed as dark and sinister, sometimes as a haven and friend of wayward heroes, magical forests and trees in fantasy books continue to draw readers into the incredible worlds of an author’s imagination. But they also allow us to remember our connection with nature and with our mutual creator or source of life beyond our simple life. Venturing into the woods also reminds us of our responsibility to care for the natural world of which we are part.

Again Łaszkiewicz says:

“Forests are places of reprieve and mystery, which stimulate our imagination with their green shadows. To ignore all of that is to disrupt our connection with the world around us.”

If you’re sensing a call into the woods, consider stepping away from technology, going outside and finding a local forest or even a special tree in your neighborhood, and spending some time in its wild and magical presence. Then, return home and curl up with a book that features a magical forest or tree, be it a new adventure or an old favorite.

If you need some inspiration, the following are a few modern titles with book covers that have recently captured my attention.

June 2021 Giveaway
Everyone on our mailing list as of June 30, 2021 will be entered into a draw to win a print edition of one the fantasy books mentioned in this blog post (max. value $20 USD).

Age of Myth

by Michael J. Sullivan
Epic Fantasy

My introduction to the works of Michael J. Sullivan started one day while innocently browsing the fantasy shelves in a local bookstore. The massive tree on the cover lured me in. I then discovered that Sullivan was just beginning this new series, so I started with the Ryria series instead. But, oh the power of a forested book cover!

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

by Ursula Le Guin
Colonization Science Fiction

This book is probably better classified as science fiction, but this cover of the original title will hook many fantasy readers as well. The book, first published in 1972, is often thought to have inspired James Cameron’s incredible film Avatar, although Le Guin said that the film “completely reverses the book’s moral premise.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Shaman’s Crossing: The Soldier Son Trilogy

by Robin Hobb
Military Fantasy

You might need to look closely at the cover art, but talk about “the transformative dread of a venture into the heart of the wild woods!” A suspension bridge leading through a massive tree trunk into a dark forest. The post-colonial themes in this series, explored through the eyes of the protagonist, are suggestive of the struggles of our own world!

Note: This cover is from the Kindle edition. Much better than the print edition IMHO.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

In an Absent Dream (Wayward Children Book 4)

by Seanan McGuire
LGBTQ+ Fantasy

Although the Wayward Children series can be read as standalone books, I recommend starting with the first (Every Heart a Doorway). But the cover of Book 4 is as beautiful and full of longing as the story.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Forest Born (Books of Bayern Book 4)

by Shannon Hale
Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Self-Esteem

Sorry, another Book 4 that will redirect you to the start of the series. But there’s something about this cover that draws a reader into that creepy forest!

“In this final book in New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale’s beloved YA fantasy series Books of Bayern, Rin will leave the forest she loves behind to find herself.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Dreamwood

by Heather Mackey
Children’s U.S. 1800s Historical Fiction

The beautiful cover art does a fantastic job of communicating that although this is a book for younger readers, all are welcome into this story of adventure, fantasy and ecology.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Mystic (The Mystic Trilogy Book 1)

by Jason Denzel
Coming of Age Fantasy

You might not have heard of this author, but Jason Denzel is the founder of Dragonmount, a popular online community for Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” series.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Crossroads of Canopy (Titan’s Forest, 1)

by Thoraiya Dyer
Greek & Roman Myth & Legend

An intriguing trilogy set in a lush rainforest world. The cover says it all.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

The Forest of Arrows: The Prince of Old Vynterra

by V.F. Sharp
Fairy Tale Fantasy

As the artwork on the cover suggests, the forest could be more than a setting for this new series for all ages. If you prefer to read entire series back-to-back, be aware that (at the time of writing) book 2 and 3 of the trilogy have yet to be published.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Tree of Ages (The Tree of Ages Series Book 1)

by Sara C. Roethle
Coming of Age Fantasy

I’ve been intrigued by this cover for years before I finally started reading the book. The series is now up to seven books. Based around Celtic mythology and folklore, it’s full of woodland adventure and, as the book description says, “less-than benevolent Fae and Fairies.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Beyond the Forest (Gem Powers Series Book 1)

by Kay L. Ling
Folklore

The cover art is not the best quality, but the concept does a great job of portraying the main character’s curiosity and caution at the edge of the forest.

“In this fantasy debut, a gemologist discovers a hidden portal and finds that family secrets are the key to saving more than one world.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

The Waking Forest

by Alyssa Wees
Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy

Here’s an example of a story where a forest is portrayed as dark and sinister. The cover art captures that mood perfectly. “Into the woods like never before.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

A Different Kingdom (Different Kingdoms Book 1)

by Paul Kearney
Epic Fantasy

The artwork for this portal fantasy trilogy is brilliant. You can almost feel your world being turned upside-down. Interesting that readers compare this to other classic forest fantasy novels that would have been in this list if the covers were more “woodsy” – Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood and the works of Charles de Lint (okay, I’ll include the Kindle edition cover of de Lint’s Greenmantle below this—it’s wonderful!)

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

Greenmantle

by Charles de Lint
Paranormal & Urban Fantasy

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (April 1989) wrote: “…with Greenmantle, [de Lint] shows that, far from being mere escapism, contemporary fantasy can be the deep mythic literature of our time.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

More Books About Magical Forests

This list is a small sampling, and I’m sure I’ve left out some of your favorite books about magical forests and trees. Feel free to add them in the comments below, especially if they have enchanting woodsy cover art!

The post 13 Books About Magical Forests with Captivating Covers appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

The Lunar Chronicles Boxed Set

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Published on June 24, 2021 16:46

May 26, 2021

Fantasy Series Box Sets for Spring 2021

Whether you like to fill your bookshelves with your favorite fantasy series box sets or load up your favorite ebook reader, there are plenty of new amazing stories waiting to be discovered and some deals to be found on old favorites.

Last month, we wrote about standalone fantasy novels. If you’re like me, sometimes you want a shorter story that you can plow through in a few days (or one late night). Other times, you want to immerse yourself in a new adventure series and you don’t care if it takes you months to complete.

Why are fantasy series box sets so popular?

Are fantasy authors simply following in the footsteps of classic fantasy writers who published trilogies and multi-book series? Maybe. I think there are many reasons for writing a series.

Let’s get the marketing reason out of the way first. It’s hard to deny that books in a series work well for traditional publishers because multiple books mean that the publisher can sell more books. Duh.

Indie authors who are responsible for publishing and marketing their creations are also motivated to write books in a series because they’re looking for ways to keep readers buying more of the indie author’s books.

Setting aside marketing goals—whether traditionally or independently published—authors have their own reasons for writing books in a series. Sometimes, one book is not big enough to capture the complete story. Sometimes, the author sets out to write a standalone book but, somewhere along the way, discovers something about a character or narrative that calls for an additional book or two. Or six.

For readers who want the whole story all at once, publishers often create box sets (or boxed sets, depending on your preference). Rather than wait for months, years, or decades (cough, Kingkiller Chronicles), many readers wait until the series is complete (or at least satisfactorily complete in a duology or trilogy).

A few suggested fantasy series box sets

If you’re one of those readers, I’ve collected a few popular fantasy series that are not only complete (or close to it), not only available as a print or ebook box set, they are also on sale (at the time of writing this post).

Check out these traditionally published fantasy series box sets, but keep reading below them for some great bargains from indie authors offering their series in box sets.

May 2021 Giveaway
Everyone on our mailing list as of May 31, 2021 will be entered into a draw to win a print edition of the first book in one the fantasy series box sets mentioned in this blog post (max. value $20 USD, traditional or indie published).

Shadow and Bone Trilogy

by Leigh Bardugo
Teen/YA Epic Fantasy

This is a digital box set of this popular series, on sale at Amazon for under $20 (the print box set is also on sale at Barnes & Noble for about $30).

Bardugo has created a fascinating world with very compelling characters. Rick Riordan calls it “A heady blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

by Marissa Meyer
Teen/YA Fairy Tale

Brief Description:

“The #1 New York Times-bestselling series that brought fans a complex and thrilling world of cyborgs and evil queens, available together in one beautiful boxed set.”

On sale today at Amazon.

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU

Harry Potter Special Edition Boxed Set

by J. K. Rowling
Teen/YA Fantasy

This special edition print set is currently on sale at Amazon USA for under $50. The illustrations by Brian Selznick look amazing!

Brief Description:

“This collectible new boxed set contains the complete bestselling Harry Potter series, books 1-7 by J.K. Rowling, brilliantly redesigned by Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK

The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set

by C. S. Lewis
Children’s Inspirational Fiction

If you need to add this to your library, Amazon USA has it on sale for $40 ($14 for ebook set). Such a deal.

Brief Description:

“ The Chronicles of Narnia have enchanted millions of readers for over sixty years, for here is a world where a witch decrees eternal winter; where there are more talking animals than people; and where battles are fought by Centaurs, Giants, and Fauns.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU

Fantasy Series Box Sets by Indie Authors

If you’re looking for something new, there are plenty of fantasy series by indie authors. Just because an author is not a bestseller doesn’t mean you can’t find a hidden gem.

Here are a few fantasy series box sets by indie authors that I’m interested in. You can read more about them, check out some reviews, and even read the first few pages to see if the story and style grab your attention. If not, move on because there are many good series out there.

The Frozen Flame: Publisher’s Pack

by Paul J Bennett
Coming of Age Fantasy

This ebook edition contains books 1 and 2 of The Frozen Flame series, which should be enough to see if you want to continue. Available on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, Apple Books, and Google.

“Discover a land infused with magic and mystery as Paul J. Bennett’s newest series, The Frozen Flame, begins.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU

Gates of Eden: The Druid Legacy Boxed Set

by Theophilus Monroe
Arthurian Modern Fantasy

Druids, dragons, demigods, and danger fill this modern Arthurian epic boxed set.

Brief Description:

“With magical fantasy adventure romance, a snarky male hero, and a plethora of characters taken straight from Arthurain lore and the Celtic world of myth, this time travel epic fantasy will keep readers enthralled from start to finish.”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU (Read for free with Kindle Unlimited)

Grimm Academy: Books 1-3

by Laura Greenwood
Mythology and Folk Tales

Brief Description:

Grimm Academy Books 1-3 is a collection of three fantasy academy fairy tale retellings, each with a sweet m/f (non-bully) romance and their own happily ever after.

Includes:
Spindles And Spells (Sleeping Beauty)
Pumpkins And Proms (Cinderella)
Huntsmen And Hoods (Red Riding Hood)

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU

Tales Of Nevaeh (5 Volume Box Set)

by David Wind
Historical Fantasy

Brief Description:

“A mix between Terry Brooks’ Shannara series and The Hundred Series by Kass Morgan, Born to Magic combines post-apocalyptic futuristic societies ruled by magic and metaphysical elements with science fiction.. Teens, young adults, and adults alike will love this fantasy..”

Find it on Amazon: USA | Canada | UK | AU

More Fantasy Series Box Sets

What about you? What’s your favorite fantasy series box set? Please recommend it in the Comments section below.

The post Fantasy Series Box Sets for Spring 2021 appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK D (A Tale of Two Worlds)

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Published on May 26, 2021 18:18

April 14, 2021

8 New Standalone Fantasy Novels for Early 2021

If you’re looking for new standalone fantasy novels, you might need to do some digging. Fantasy authors tend to write epic trilogies or long series.

I enjoy a great trilogy or even a lengthy series (à la Michael J. Sullivan, Brandon Sanderson, or Robert Jordan) as much as the next fantasy reader.

However, every now and then I feel like a brief interlude between epics. Something that I can get through in a matter of days (or a late night) rather than months.

There are various lists of popular one-off titles (Neil Gaiman is probably my favorite in this category) but recently I found myself on a quest for some new standalone fantasy novels published in the past year.

I discovered quite a few but have narrowed it down to eight. Here they are, listed in alphabetical order by author’s last name.

The Candle and the Flame

by Nafiza Azad
Published: June 2, 2020
YA Epic Fantasy

Brief Description:

“In this William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist novel, Nafiza Azad weaves an immersive tale of magic and the importance of names; fiercely independent women; and, perhaps most importantly, the work for harmony within a city of a thousand cultures and cadences.”

by Michel Faber
Published: December 8, 2020
Magical Realism

Brief Description:

“A stunning modern-day Dickensian fable and a celebration of friendship and bravery for freethinkers everywhere.”

“Glorious. A story that will be found and enjoyed and dreamed about for years to come.”—Neil Gaiman

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig
Published: September 29, 2020
Science Fiction/Literary Fiction

So, maybe not pure Fantasy but certainly magical. Hooked me in the opening paragraph.

Brief Description:

“When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret… But things are about to change.”

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK Pawn’s Gambit

by Rob J. Hayes
Published: January 26, 2021
Asian Myth & Legend

This is Book 2 in The Mortal Techniques series but it is a standalone story set in that universe.

Brief Description:

Pawn’s Gambit is a wuxia adventure filled with heroes, gods, spirits, and magic.

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK The Will and the Wilds

by Charlie N. Holmberg
Published: January 21, 2020
Teen & YA Fantasy

Charlie Holmberg has some great clean fantasy series (e.g. The Paper Magician) and other standalone fantasy novels.

Brief Description:

“A spellbinding story of truce and trickery.”

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking book cover

by T Kingfisher
Published: July 21, 2020
Children’s Sword & Sorcery Fantasy

This is one of those clever kids’ books that adults love.

Brief Description:

“Fourteen-year-old Mona’s life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona’s city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target.”

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK Burn

by Patrick Ness
Published: June 2, 2020
Teen & YA Coming of Age Fantasy

Brief Description:

“An all-consuming story of revenge, redemption and dragons.

On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron gas station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm…”

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UK The Midnight Bargain

by C. L. Polk
Published: October 13, 2020
Historical Fantasy

Brief Description:

“From the bestselling, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.”

Find it on Amazon USA Find it on Amazon Canada Find it on Amazon UKMore Standalone Fantasy Books

What about you? If you’ve read (or read about) other new standalone fantasy novels, please recommend them in the Comments section below.

The post 8 New Standalone Fantasy Novels for Early 2021 appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

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Published on April 14, 2021 17:39

March 12, 2021

12 New Uplifting Fantasy Books to Inspire Hope in Dark Times

Life can feel pretty dark sometimes.

Although most of us have shared a common darkness over the past year, you don’t need a pandemic to raise its monstrous, fire-breathing head to force people to run indoors for safety. Sometimes, that monster looks like losing a job or a loved one or your good health. Sometimes, it looks even less scary than that. Either way, it brings darkness.

Most readers of fiction—whatever the genre—love to read to escape everyday life. Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.

As our reader friends know, fantasy is a classic example of a genre written especially for people who love to find a book where they can escape the pressures, frustrations, or darkness of everyday life.

But not all fantasy books lead readers out of darkness. Some lead you deeper.

“Grimdark fantasy” (where plotlines are amoral and violent, and traditional roles of heroes and villains are obscure) has become quite popular in recent years.

There was a time when most fantasy books were more hopeful. Even if plotlines and villains were dark and violent, the protagonists were hopeful, and the stories usually left the reader with a positive feeling. Understandably, some authors and readers have reacted to this by moving to subgenres like grimdark.

Feeling like I’ve been under a dark cloud recently, I wondered if hopeful, uplifting fantasy books were still popular. Spoiler: I think they are.

Whenever I think of the theme of hope in fantasy books, I remember the wisdom of Samwise in The Lord of the Rings:

It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness, and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Here are twelve uplifting fantasy books (“uplifting” according to most of their readers) published within the past ten years. These stories (listed in alphabetical order by Author’s last name), and their popularity among other fantasy readers, instill hope that there are still great fantasy stories being told to help lift readers out of dark times.

If in our imaginations we can find hope that “in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow,” maybe hope will eventually translate into a new day that will shine clearer.

March 2021 Giveaway
Everyone on our mailing list as of March 31, 2021 will be entered into a draw to win a print edition of one of the books mentioned in this blog post (max. value $20 USD).

The Goblin Emperor

by Katherine Addison
Coming of Age Fantasy

Senlin Ascends

by Josiah Bancroft
Historical Fantasy

The Face in the Frost

by John Bellairs
Humorous Fantasy

The Last Namsara

by Kristen Ciccarelli
YA Epic Fantasy

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

by Alix E. Harrow
Historical Fantasy

Tess of the Road

by Rachel Hartman
YA Medieval Fiction

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern
Historical Fantasy

Knight in the Nighttime

by J.S. Morin
Action & Adventure

Uprooted

by Naomi Novik
Fairy Tales

The Riyria Revelations

by Michael J. Sullivan
Fantasy Adventure

Among Others

by Jo Walton
Magical Realism

The Golem and the Jinni

by Helene Wecker

The Maidstone Chronicles

Of course. How can we forgot this hope-themed epic fantasy!

More Uplifting Fantasy Books

What others recent titles would you classify as hopeful or uplifting fantasy books? Please comment below.

The post 12 New Uplifting Fantasy Books to Inspire Hope in Dark Times appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

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Published on March 12, 2021 14:02

December 10, 2020

Goodreads Best Fantasy novels of 2020

Goodreads recently announced their Choice Awards for Best Fantasy novels of 2020. In fact, the annual Goodreads Choice Awards lists the best books of the year in many major genres—including fantasy.

These awards are significant because they represent books that are voted on by readers—everyday people like you and me (assuming you are a Goodreads subscriber).

Sub-genres of the Best Fantasy novels

I took a look at the twenty books that readers voted the Best Fantasy novels of 2020. In light of last month’s blog post about fantasy sub-genres, I was curious to know which sub-genres are most popular among Goodreads readers this year.

Most books are categorized under more than one sub-genre. For example, the Goodreads #1 voted Best Fantasy novel of 2020 is House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. This book is book one in Maas’ new Crescent City series. One of the main sub-genre categories for House of Earth and Blood is the Fantasy sub-genre Paranormal Romance.

I looked at all twenty books voted on as the Best Fantasy novels of 2020 and discovered that they all fit within six main fantasy sub-genres (according to Amazon’s categories).

Five of the twenty books are Contemporary Fantasy

Five of the twenty books are Historical Fantasy

Four of the twenty books are Dark Fantasy

Three of the twenty books are Epic Fantasy

Two of the twenty books are Paranormal Romance

One of the twenty books is Coming of Age

You can check out the full list of the twenty Best Fantasy novels of 2020 here, but I’ve featured the top ten below.

Everyone on our mailing list as of December 31, 2020 will be entered into a draw to win their choice of one of the twenty Goodreads’ Best Fantasy novels of 2020.

House of Earth and Blood

by Sarah J. Maas
Paranormal Romance

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by V.E. Schwab
Historical Fantasy

The House in the Cerulean Sea

by TJ Klune
Contemporary Fantasy

Rhythm of War

by Brandon Sanderson
Epic Fantasy

The City We Became

by N.K. Jemisin
Contemporary Fantasy

The Once and Future Witches

by Alix E. Harrow
Dark Fantasy

Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke
Dark Fantasy

A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik
Contemporary Fantasy

The Empire of Gold

by S. A Chakraborty
Historical Fantasy

Peace Talks

by Jim Butcher
Contemporary Fantasy

The post Goodreads Best Fantasy novels of 2020 appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.

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Published on December 10, 2020 12:53

November 6, 2020

Fantasy Bestsellers from the 5 Most Popular Fantasy Sub-genres

If you love reading fantasy novels, you probably have your favorite stories. What you might not know is that there are dozens of fantasy sub-genres out there.

Listed below are five of the current top fantasy sub-genres, with a bestseller from each. Everyone on our mailing list as of November 30, 2020 will be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of the books featured here (paperback edition).

Teen & Young Adult > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Coming of Age

Children of Blood and Bone

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Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Romantic

Spellbreaker

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Literature & Fiction > Women’s Fiction > Fantasy

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

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Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Dragons & Mythical Creatures

The Killing Fog

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Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic

The Way of Kings

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What’s your favorite Fantasy Sub-genre?

Fantasy Sub-genre survey

My favorite Fantasy Sub-genre*Coming of AgeRomanticWomen’s FictionDragons & Mythical CreaturesEpicOtherOther Fantasy sub-genres I like...Examples: Paranormal, Historical, Dark, Gaslamp, Fairy Tales, etc.Other Comments(optional)EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The post Fantasy Bestsellers from the 5 Most Popular Fantasy Sub-genres appeared first on The Maidstone Chronicles.