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Fantastic Books for Fantasy Fanatics
Nicholas Eames is the author of Kings of the Wyld, which is a 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee in both the Fantasy and Debut categories.
Looking for a great book for someone who devoured Game of Thrones or who longs to return to the Shire? These books are guaranteed to please both the fantasy aficionado as well as the person who has yet to discover the greatness of the genre!
We asked debut author Eames to round up a dozen fantastical books to check off your holiday list this year:
"As someone who has spent a great deal of time and effort trying to 'convert' friends into fantasy readers, I consider myself something of an expert when it comes to curating lists of books guaranteed to impress. Below are a few that would make ideal gifts for old and new fantasy fans alike!" says Eames.
"Huge, epic, sprawling, sentimental. Check their bookshelf first because this will PROBABLY be on it. If you or anyone you know still hasn't started this series, get on it. If fantasy had a yearbook, this one would be grinning in its braces above this caption: 'Most likely to be the next Game of Thrones.'"
"Western meets fantasy, with a badass, take-no-crap-from-anyone female protagonist. Lots of humor with some beautifully poignant moments in there as well."
"One of the best debuts of all time. The tale of con men and thieves in a 'Venetian renaissance' setting. Fast-paced, hilarious, brilliant. It's first in a series, but it reads fine as a standalone."
"A fantastical twist on The Three Musketeers. Exceedingly witty and fun, with a wonderful cast of characters and incredible sword fights, written by a guy who really knows his stuff. A great beginning to a truly excellent series."
"Very accurately billed as The Hobbit meets Ocean's Eleven. A group of miscreants band together to pull elaborate heists on their evil dragon overlords. Things go badly for everyone involved. Action-packed and hilarious."
"Probably the best book I've read in the past few years. Baru is an accountant whose island nation is usurped by an overbearing empire. She resolves to bring them down from the inside. Intrigue (and devastating heartbreak) ensues!"
"Fast-paced, gritty, and brutal. Blackwing has swords, guns, magic, twisted monsters, evil sorcerers, and embittered mercenaries all fighting to survive on the edge of a wasteland called The Misery. If your reader has mentioned loving Joe Abercrombie, this is for them."
"Besides having a great title, this book is the beginning of an incredible series featuring a cast that is refreshingly diverse and not-at-all typical of many 'classic' fantasy tropes (the heroine of book two is a blind craftswoman). These books are intriguing, complex, and often socially relevant. Jemisin is prolific, too, so there's plenty more if you like what you read."
"A buddy-cop movie in a fantasy setting. Two unlikely partners team up to solve a mystery that threatens their entire city. Plenty of action, plenty of laughs, and a fair bit of mystery to boot."
"Expecting blood and battle and tons of killing? Look elsewhere because Age of Assassins is actually a beautifully told coming-of-age story cloaked in the vestments of a mystery novel. Complex characters and a deeply inventive world promise bright things for this series in the future!"
"Another of those 'if you haven't read this yet you will eventually' books. This story is fast-paced, clever, and all sorts of cool. A great one for 'fantasy skeptics'—it takes place throughout several alternate (and often sinister) versions of London, England."
What books would you recommend for fantasy fans? Share them with us in the comments!
See the complete coverage of our Gift Guide including:
Irresistible Books for History Buffs
Thrilling Pageturners for Mystery Lovers
Bone-Chilling Books for Horror Fans
See the complete coverage of our Gift Guide including:
Irresistible Books for History Buffs
Thrilling Pageturners for Mystery Lovers
Bone-Chilling Books for Horror Fans
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Bruno
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Nov 19, 2017 06:58AM
The stormlight archive books by brandon sanderson. An amazing masterpiece with 3 books released and 7 more to finish this series, this is going to be epic!!!
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The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices)
I loved the storm light archives! Also the Divine cities series is a great read!
i absolutely love Eric T. Knight's series Chaos and Retribution and his Immortality and Chaos series. Also K. C. Herbel's The Jester King fantasy series.
ANYTHING by Brandon SandersonLightbringer series by Brent Weeks
Demon Cycle by Peter V Brett
Midkemia books by Raymond E Feist
I must say that I agree with Susan completely, I love all the authors she mentioned!
Anything by David Eddings, Anne Mccaffrey, Tamora Pierce or Mercedes Lackey.
Sanderson should be on this list.. like two-three times.So here goes:
The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson
The Mistborn series by Sanderson is amazingThe wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. Loved the first few books; however did not complete the whole series. 14 books is way too long.
The book of Words trilogy by J.V.Jones. The sword of shadows by J.V Jones series is also great but not quite finished. One more book to come.
The Name of the Wind"The name of the wind" is one of my personal favorites. It is amazing. An incredible book for all those who love the fantasy genre. I can't recommend it strong enough. <3
Траке wrote: "The Name of the Wind"The name of the wind" is one of my personal favorites. It is amazing. An incredible book for all those who love the fantasy genre. I can't recommend it strong e..."
Awesome book but will he ever finish book 3?
Susan wrote: "Траке wrote: "The Name of the Wind"The name of the wind" is one of my personal favorites. It is amazing. An incredible book for all those who love the fantasy genre. I can't recomme..."
That is what I am worried about as well. Does book three even exist? What if Rothfuss isn't releasing the book because he's worried it's underwhelming? So many questions.....
Susan wrote: "Траке wrote: "The Name of the Wind"The name of the wind" is one of my personal favorites. It is amazing. An incredible book for all those who love the fantasy genre. I can't recomme..."
Supposedly, the book has been finished and it's not just being published. It's also why I'm not reading the first two. I'm not going through another GRRM.
'Lightbringer' is definitely missing here.Another amazing series is the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn saga by Tad Williams
Totally agree with the Sanderson comments: ANYTHING by Sanderson. I am particularly fond of Wax and Wayne in the second Mistborn set. Also, Lindsay Buroker's Fallen Empire series is fun and gripping.
I can't believe not a single Sanderson book was included in this list....
No Robin Hobb? Start from the Assassin's Apprentice on and never look back.
Olivia wrote: "The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices)"
I whole-heartedly agree.
Michael wrote: "No Robin Hobb? Start from the Assassin's Apprentice on and never look back."Ooh, I love Robin Hobb too! I think the takeaway from this thread is that there is a fantastic range of fantasy writing out there. Some others I've just thought of:
- Guy Gavriel Kay,
- Jim Butcher (Codex Alera series is brilliant)
- C. Gockel
- Victoria Schwab's Monsters of Verity
Robin Hobb has a gobs of excellent material (everything in the farseer world has been fantastic)Joe Abercrombie has excellent grimdark fantasy
Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan
Blood Song floored me, spectacular (the second book was OK, haven't read the third due to mixed reviews)
The great thing with these books, they are written and the series are finished, just like several of the Sanderson mentions above. I'd hate to try and start someone on fantasy and have a GRRM or Rothfuss situation where you're waiting forever to finish, or it doesn't get finished. Don't get someone hooked on something only half done so far. Let them hook themselves on those books.
I starting to believe that the admins and writers on this site are biased against Sanderson. This is the second time this month.
Sanderson (duh)Michael J Sullivan
Jonathan Stroud (closer to urban fantasy)
Garth Nix
Maria V Snyder
The Name of The Wind - Probably my favourite book ever!!!
Anything by Stephen Donaldson. Difficult to believe he's been missed.Agree with others regarding Tad Williams, Abercrombie, Rothfuss and McClellan.
Not that keen on Sanderson though. Sorry.
Calvinist wrote: "I starting to believe that the admins and writers on this site are biased against Sanderson. This is the second time this month.""We asked debut author Eames to round up a dozen fantastical books to check off your holiday list this year:"
It says the list was compiled by one of the GR Choice Award Nominees. And I like that I see a lot of fresh books on this list rather than the same ones I see mentioned time after time.
I can understand why everyone is upset Sanderson not being mentioned but I like that opening this list there were nine books/authors I had not heard of before. I personnally have not read any Sanderson but he's on my mental list to pick up already seeing as I hear about him and a few others mentioned endlessly.
Robin Hobb and Sanderson, definitely. Also Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series and Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells.
wheres bardugo on this list tho? six of crows anyone?
Wake of Vultures doesn't have a female protagonist, the series has a NON-BINARY main character. The distinction should be noted because many people going in (or glaze past it) with the expectation of one thing and getting another.
City of Stairs and its two sequels.An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
Flesh and Spirit
Breath and Bone
The Whitefire Crossing
The Fifth Season
The Obsidian Gate
The Stone Sky
A Song For Arbonne
Tigana
katwiththehat wrote: "Calvinist wrote: "I starting to believe that the admins and writers on this site are biased against Sanderson. This is the second time this month.""We asked debut author Eames to round up a dozen..."
I agree. Though I am a big Sanderson's fan and he should be included in any fantasy list I think the author meant to introduce us to less known reads, we are less likely to pick up.
Audrey wrote: "Sanderson (duh)Michael J Sullivan
Jonathan Stroud (closer to urban fantasy)
Garth Nix
Maria V Snyder"
Hey, thanks for the inclusion...especially given the amazing company you put me in.
Lesley wrote: - Jim Butcher (Codex Alera series is brilliant)"I'm so glad someone mentioned Codex Alera.. no one EVER mentions it and it's a fantastic series!
Where is Brandon Sanderson??? No fantasy list is complete without him.
I can never rec The Traitor Baru Cormorant enough. A truly fabulous, devastating fantasy novel.
I'd add some Scott Lynch with his Locke Lamora (magic and thieves) and of course, Jim Butcher and his Harry Dresden series. Also, Seanan McGuire and any of her fantasy series (though I feel strongly about October DAye)
I can't understand either why there is no Brandon Sanderson in the list.
Favourite all-time book is The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson.Others not yet mentioned going back in time include:
Michael Shea (Nift the Lean)
Gene Wolf (Shadow of the Torturer)
Andrzej Sapkowski (The Witcher series)
Zach wrote: "Robin Hobb has a gobs of excellent material (everything in the farseer world has been fantastic)Joe Abercrombie has excellent grimdark fantasy
Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan
[book:Blood So..."
I so agree with you. If there is something that irritates me to no end, it's the series that are going on for ever. I started the Robert Jordan Wheel of Times series and read up to book 10. And stopped. Now there are 4 more books in the series. But I would have to read the whole series again from the start. And these books are huge. I am not sure I have the energy for it. Trilogies are best.
A darker shade of magic is my favourite book ever! And I've almost worked my way through The name of the wind which I'm loving!!!If I loved those two can anyone tell me if I will most likely like the other books too? Very curious, I love fantasy but feel like I'm quite critical as to what kind of fantasy I love
