Books with complex worlds/lore/settings?

[Brittany]

I've always been a fan of Tamora Pierce's young adult books. Specifically the Tortall series.

[Wendy]

Cinda Chima Williams' Seven Realms series? (4 books)
#1: The Demon King
#2: The Exiled King
#3: The Grey Wolf Throne
#4: The Crimson Crown

I agree whole heartedly with the suggestion of Tamora Pierce's Tortall novels. You might like Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series, Juliet Marillier's Sevenwater series, or Sharon Shinn's Mystic and Rider books. I like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel novels, but those seem to be a matter of personal taste.

[Leah]

N.K Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy is amazingly complex and vivid. I second the Black Jewels series as well.

[C.G.]

I agree with any of Tamora Pierce's books. There are about 18 in the Tortall series - several quartets. I also like her Circle quartets. I also enjoy Juliet Marillier's Sevenwater series and N.K. Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy. Have you read the other two books in the Graceling trilogy?

[Anna]

Garth Nix's young adult Abhorson series is awesome for very unique world building.

[Rebecca]

Garth Nix series is great as is Philip Pullman The Golden Compass series.

[Tegan]

Not necessarily complex by Spellwright by Blake Charlton (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67...) deals with spellcasting in a very interesting way, in particular the main character is essentially dyslexic when it comes to crafting spells (and therefore he "misspells"). There is punning but it isn't tongue in cheek/Discworld style punning, its more clever word play.

[C.G.]

One of my favourite series which is more Fantasy with a continuing romance in it is Christopher Stasheff's Wizard in Spite of Himself series, which eventually branches out to each of their children finding romance and a separate series about their oldest son (the first book of which was actually written before the other series).

[Anna Neal]

One of my favorite complex fantasy world/lore/setting is Michelle Sagara's Cast series. Cast in Shadow

The whole series becomes more and more complicated as the books go on and it is really well done.

[C.G.]

Thanks for that recommendation, Anna. I had it marked to read after Felicia gave it 5 stars, but it wasn't available at the library then. Your reminder got me to look again and I have it on hold. I see that Tamora Pierce gave it 4 stars as well.

[Wendy]

C.G. wrote: "I agree with any of Tamora Pierce's books. There are about 18 in the Tortall series - several quartets. I also like her Circle quartets. I also enjoy Juliet Marillier's Sevenwater series and N.K..."

I have, and they are each different from one another and both very good. I didn't understand when Bitterblue was called a sequel to Graceling and a companion to Fire, but it made sense once I'd started it. I am amazed at Kristin Cashore's writing. The same with N.K. Jemison--I was hesitant to read The Inheritance Trilogy at first because so many people were excited about it and that makes me leery (what can I say, my great-grandmother said I was ornery), and when I did I was in awe and thought 'so _this_ is why everyone was so excited.' I agree with Anna about the Cast series. Some are stronger than others, but the latest one made me get all excited about the series again. I think being able to put things on hold at the library while you're sitting at your computer in your pajamas is one of the most awesome things since white chocolate mochas.

[C.G.]

Wendy wrote: "C.G. wrote: "I agree with any of Tamora Pierce's books. There are about 18 in the Tortall series - several quartets. I also like her Circle quartets. I also enjoy Juliet Marillier's Sevenwater s..."

I'm not a big chocolate fan - but being able to put books on hold in the middle of the night - dressed or undressed! - is definitely one of the best things about the Internet! ;) Our library only gives us 50 free holds for the year - which I usually have used up by May! Then I have to pay $.50 each. Last year I asked if I could get more (after paying for about 30 more holds) and they gave me another 25 which lasted me until December 31st!

[Wendy]

That's so sad! I wish library services weren't being cut so badly. I've never lived in a huge city, but I am really happy with the library here. We moved out of the city limits and have to pay something between &120-$140/year but I use it myself so much (not mention my bf & his daughter, who, at 14 is finding out what she likes to read & hasn't let her dislike of some of what she has to read for school put her off it.) I still save a lot of money. I've started using their eLending program, which I didn't before. I still am sad you have to pay for over 50 holds a year. I'm sure there are people who don't put any books on hold at all--it seems like it would balance out. I can see doing it to keep people from going on and putting books on hold willy-nilly and then not picking them up, but if you're a responsible person it's not fair-I'm glad you got the extra ones.

[C.G.]

Yes, we used to have unlimited free holds but apparently people were abusing the system by putting tons of books on hold and keeping them out of the system. We do have to pay $1 if we don't pick up our hold on time - we have a week from notification - and that makes sense

I'm glad you're boyfriend's daughter is enjoying reading. Still my favourite thing to do.

[Tegan]

C.G. wrote: "Yes, we used to have unlimited free holds but apparently people were abusing the system by putting tons of books on hold and keeping them out of the system. We do have to pay $1 if we don't pick u..."

As a librarian I am also really sad they did that. We handle it a little differently in my network, you have a hard limit of 20 holds at a time (used to be 10 plus staff overrides, but not flat limit with no overrides), and .50 for unclaimed holds. The amount we process for ILL I can't imagine limiting the number of holds someone can make (and then charging after that).

[Krystle ~A Booknatic~]

Wasn't KMM Fever series amazing! ? You should look into Larissa Ione, Demonica series has 5 books (another due out later this year ). and Lords of Deliverance series has 4 books. Both series act as a whole basically because all of the characters are in both, so you get involved with a lot of people and their stories. Loved them!

[Brittany]

Kira wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions! I did read Fire, but I wasn't a big fan. Hoping that Bitterblue will be more like the first book.
I am a bit worn out on "young adult" books. Can't quite put my fing..."

The Tairen Soul quintet by CL Wilson, is also a good series with interesting lore.

[Eliste]

Anything by Paula Volsky or Paula Brandon's new trilogy that starts with The Traitor's Daughter. She creates worlds that are fascinating and complex.

[Emy]

C.G. wrote: "Yes, we used to have unlimited free holds but apparently people were abusing the system by putting tons of books on hold and keeping them out of the system. We do have to pay $1 if we don't pick u..."

Unlimited free hold here still, thank God. However, they're now charging £3 per title for requests to buy books, Even if it's one they'd buy anyway. THAT is annoying as we used to be able to use the requests to reserve books on order (i.e. before they were showing on the catalogue). Sad librarian bookworm is sad... :P

[C.G.]

Brittany wrote: "Kira wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions! I did read Fire, but I wasn't a big fan. Hoping that Bitterblue will be more like the first book.
I am a bit worn out on "young adult" books. Can't quit..."

Oh, yes, definitely The Tairen Soul quintet. Unfortunately I could only find the last two books as e-books and so haven't finished them yet. :(

[Brittany]

C.G. wrote: "Brittany wrote: "Kira wrote: "Thanks for all the suggestions! I did read Fire, but I wasn't a big fan. Hoping that Bitterblue will be more like the first book.
I am a bit worn out on "young adult" ..."

I need to do a reread of the series. I vaguely remember how it ends, but I only read the last 3 books one time each, so my memory of it all is fuzzy on the details.

[C.G.]

Anna wrote: "One of my favorite complex fantasy world/lore/setting is Michelle Sagara's Cast series. Cast in Shadow

The whole series becomes more and more complicated as the books go on and it is really well d..."

Thanks to your recommendation, I am now reading book 2 in this series as an e-book and books 4,5, & 6 I just picked up from the library. Thank you.

[Sabrina's]

The Last Trumpet Project
Its a very complex book. It's in Virtual word and real word, and the struggle between them. It is not a series but its also not a small book.

[Thom]

Anne Bishop's Written in Red is an urban fantasy tale set in a very complex world where the Others: vampires and shape-shifters and others rule a world where humans are basically clever meat. and the others are the good guys that become a human's only protection

[[deleted user]]

I think Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series count has having complex worlds. VF read book 1 of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series in their third episode (Slave to Sensation). Book 12 of that series comes out this June!