Friday Reads: Fantasy

I have this not so secret love affair with Fantasy novels. Of course this is no surprise if you know that the first book I ever set out to write was a medieval. I love a good quest. A battle for the soul of a land. Right and wrong. And so with the passing of Ursula K. Le Guin this week, I thought I’d share some of the great fantasy books I’ve read in the past year and hope you will share your favorites in the comments below!

First up is Red Sister by Mark Lawrence. One of those books you pick up on a whim and then find yourself devouring. As I told a friend, it is very much like Blood Song (which follows below) but with strong girls. Girls raised to be warriors. What’s not like, especially these days.

Can’t wait for the next one. I always hate to say this to a fellow author, but: Mark, get writing. Please. I did say “please.”

I have to admit that I was just blown away by Anthony Ryan’s Raven Shadow series when I read it last year. From the opening scene of Blood Song, where our small hero is dumped by his father, you follow this boy’s story from childhood to manhood with your heart pounding. And the ending of the first book just knocked me over. (And DON’T peek. Just don’t. It really is a great twist.)

Well, once I finished Blood Song, I read the rest of the series, using the books as reward reads. “Elizabeth, if you get your pages done this week, you can read Tower Lord all weekend.” And then it was on to Queen of Fire, which was a rip-roaring tale.

Sigh. I hated the series to end. But as my friend, and reading buddy, Jessica pointed out, “You get to read them again.” (This after her third time through Blood Song.)

Yes, I freely admit, I’ve forced these books on anyone I thought would like them to read them. Now I am passing on my addiction to you. Yes, go read these.

Such. Great. Reads. But I think you get my point.

So now that I’ve pushed my new favorites on you, tell me your favorite Fantasy reads. Please.