Justin hight asked Janny Wurts:

Where do i start with your books? I want to read a fantasy seires from you but the lists are confusing .i would like to start with a cool traditonal style fantasy ..starting from book one.what series and book should i start with and in what order do you suggest i read the subseqent books? Thank you for your time.

Janny Wurts Hi Justin,

I did a quick check to see what books you have listed with high ratings to steer my response, given each of my books are different, and your request for 'traditional' can be taken in several ways.

You seem to enjoy Stephen King, and many King readers (my husband included) enjoyed my standalone To Ride Hell's Chasm - traditional in that, the Captain of the Guard is tasked with finding a missing princess. My husband likens it to a cross between King's Eyes of Dragon and The Gunslinger - I've got 3 chapters posted as an audio sampler on my website, so you could check it out and see if it bites.

If by 'traditional' you mean coming of age - then my Cycle of Fire trilogy starting with Stormwarden follows three younger characters, all of whom are flawed, and not all will make the right decisions. It has wizards and pirates, and some deeply buried secrets under the way of the world. It is not 'traditional' in the sense it has elves or dwarves in it, but there is a threat to the world as they know it, and certain doom if they fail.

If you prefer a more sword and sorcery approach, and a single character, adventure oriented, but that unfolds into the psychological depths behind the legendary hero, then the standalone Master of Whitestorm might work. It has some very strange magic, and lots of action, so perhaps this could be a great pick, given you like Sanderson's work.

The most complicated series I've done would be the Wars of Light and Shadows beginning with Curse of the Mistwraith, and that one is really 'off the deep end' for complexity and layered concepts. It has a slow burn approach, builds very carefully to a half point, then converges into a hammering finish - but I'd not call it a simple or a skim read, it has depths and heights that unfold and twist your conceptions, but it won't tip its hand quickly, it's a slower build. The approach that 'seems' traditional at the outset is going to develop (as the volumes progress) into something very different, so much so, your 'assumption's will kick you in the teeth and reverse your stance, not once, but several times over. I don't normally recommend people start here, because it's not the easiest entry to my work, but if you love thought and depth and are able to ride with the shades of gray and the differing (and sometimes contradictory) views on morality until the hammer falls, then it might click straight off.

A cruise through my website will provide you with excerpts in all formats. You're welcome to my input if you have any more questions, and thank you for asking, I hope this response has been helpful.

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