Fantasy Book Club discussion
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The Best Fantasy Series You've Read?
MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote:Welp, there was a big to do over the ending of the last book.The internetz went insane - lots of people swore to never read Roth again and some even wanted to punch her in the face: http://bookriot.com/2013/10/24/hell-h...
Later the media tried to claim that the reaction Roth received due to her last book cause her to develop an anxiety disorder.
Outch!! This is insane. I'm so glad I'm not a writer. Apparently it can be bad for your health! :P
On a more serious note: thanks for posting it. I had Divergent on my to read list and it got swiftly removed. I'm a sucker for happy endings. Dark gritty fantasy might get some leeway, but for lighter reads like romance and YA tragic ending is not acceptable. Glad I haven't read it. Surely threatening author is waaay over the top, but I can see why readers got upset.
Milda wrote: "On a more serious note: thanks for posting it. I had Divergent on my to read list and it got swiftly removed. I'm a sucker for happy endings. Dark gritty fantasy might get some leeway, but for lighter reads like romance and YA tragic ending is not acceptable. Glad I haven't read it. Surely threatening author is waaay over the top, but I can see why readers got upset. "Yeah, I'm not into that kind of ending. O_O
Marc wrote: "Luke wrote: "If Rothfuss messes up the third Kingkiller Chronicle I'll cry myself to sleep."I heard he already messed it up with book 2. Never read it so I don't know. The first book was OK but d..."
It all depends on what you want out of a book. For me, Rothfuss has done just fine. I enjoyed both of the two books currently out tremendously. We shall see for the last book since it will be make or break. He has quite a bit of ground to cover and he has said repeatedly that this will be the final book, he's not breaking it into several parts.
Luke wrote: "Rothfuss ... has quite a bit of ground to cover"I have to disagree, I bet if one cut all Kvothe's side quests and silliness, one could finish the plot in under 100 pages. It's doesn't seem that complicated to me.
However, the strength of these books is the silliness and side quests, so hopefully it's 100 pages of plot+900 pages of high quality silliness.
I do agree on his strengths, but he has many plot lines to cover in both the current plot line and the story plot line.He has to kill the king and start a war.
He has to resolve, or at least finish the love interest plot line. Including Denna's plot line with her patron.
He has to finish all the Vintas plot lines.
He has to finish all the Chandrian plot lines.
He has to finish the Bast/Kvothe/Chronicler line in the present, including the impending issues with the demons or whatever the spiders and the possessed guy were.
This will take a lot more than 100 pages in my opinion.
Raymond E. Feist Riftwar im up to book 2 and i think by the time im finished it will be in my top 5Wheel of time
Dresden files
Kingkiller chronicles
The Broken empire
Thats just the ones off the top of my head
I also strongly recommend Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan. There is a 2 book prequel series called Riyria Chronicles that is really good too.
The Broken Empire is probably my favorite "Anti-hero" type series. Lawrence is incredible at creating someone you love to hate, but also feel for at moments.
Luke wrote: "The Broken Empire is probably my favorite "Anti-hero" type series. Lawrence is incredible at creating someone you love to hate, but also feel for at moments."Yeah, the thing I liked about Jorg Ancrath is he did not even pretend to be a good person. He knew he was a bad person and did things for selfish reasons, and he was perfectly ok with that. It was a very refreshing change from the norm.
Steven Erikson the Malazan series is my favourite series. So far...!
I would put A Song of Ice and Fire up there, but it isn't finished yet. I can easily see the whole thing going pear-shaped (I actually believe the first three books are noticeably better than the others). Martin has a lot of ground to cover if he wants to end it well.Threatening authors about endings and the such is astonishing, but I can definitely see it happening. Obviously, it isn't right (and should not be encouraged), but there are always going to be fans who get too emotionally invested in things. I follow a number of different sports - fans there can be even more extreme.
Most of my favorites are already listed but I'll toss them out there anyway:Steven Erikson - Malazan, Book of the Fallen
Jim Butcher - Codex Alera
Illona Andrews - Kate Daniels series
Paul Kearney - The Monarchies of God
Joe Abercrombie - The First Law
Kevin Hearne - The Iron Druid Chronicles
And of course special mention for George R.R. Martin because the first couple of books I loved. But the last two have been rather 'meh' to me so can't say the whole series has blown me away.
The large majority think that GRRM could have skipped almost all of his last two books. They add very little plot movement and the narrative stalls out. It takes a lot of will power to get through them.And I agree James, I loved that he was a bad person, and he didn't feel badly about being that way. The reason I like King of Thorns slightly less then Prince of Thorns was he was slightly more human in the second book which I didn't like.
This thread has been quite for a while, but I have to mention another series: Patricia McKillip's Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy. Wonderfully lyrical books. They have an odd, gentle sort of wistfulness to them that I find rare in fantasy.
For me it has to be Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle. I can't remember any other series completely capturing my interest like that.
I can't really think of a favorite one off the top of my head because I have so many! Maybe the Chronicles of Narnia, the Young Jedi Knight series, or The Homecoming Saga (memory of earth) by Orson Scott Card.
Ravens shadow is very good if no one has mentioned that
Hard to say. Sanderson has my recent reading interests more or less tied up. That said...The Belgariad - Eddings
Mistorn/Stormlight - Sanderson
Coldfire - C.S.Friedman
are some of my most favorite.
I would have to say Malazan is the best. It truely shows what fantasy really can do on a EPIC scale, especially books 3: Memories of Ice.Also The Black Company, and how Cook was light years a head of its time as everyone was writing Tolkien like bbooks, he was writing something truely unique. Plus the ending to the series is really EPIC, and one of the inspirations for Malazan.
I agree with Cook being damn good. Oh...Jhereg series by Brust! too.
I've been reading the Throne of Glass series, which is categorized as "New Adult Fantasy." At least as a female reader, I love the series. The MC is bad ass and the characters are well-developed. The first book is a little slim on fantasy but as the series goes you get full-on magic, fae, political intrigue, demons, and plenty of blood spilled. Typically females don't actually do the killing in fantasy but this one does plenty. I've been very disappointed by much of the typically recommended male fantasy authors. The writing just doesn't hold up but it gets rated highly if there's semi-interesting magic. I'd love recommendations if people want to give me some!
Don't think i've seen anyone mention Daniel Abraham. I started his Long Price Quartet and he is a master of character but not a ton of action. I am on book 3 of his Dagger and Coin series and it is excellent. Great character and plot again but with more action. Also R. Scott Bakkers The Darkness That Comes Before was really good. lots of deeper meaning and philosophy. Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series is good, a little slower pace but great story. My favorite is The Stormlight Archives but i wanted to mention a few that i didnt see on here.
Mod
Nathan, I agree. This series, IMO, is the most under rated out there. Also love the Kingkiller chronicles.
Mod
Heather, that was a really great discription. It truly is the "perfect pleasure reading".
If I had to pick one series then it would be the Gardens of the Moon Malazan series by Steven Erikson and the complimentary series by Ian Esslemont. Just real fantasy for me with world building, characters, etc. With two different writers doing work on two different parts of the timeline the sequence of books can be jarring for those not use to world though and the first book tosses you smack in the middle of things. But once it gets going it's one hell of a tale.
Not that the serie is finished, but I´d like to mention Gentlemen Bastards, before I forget about Scott Lynch completely, which I´m most likely to do so if he doesn´t release another book soon.I have all his three books in paperback home, next to my creeping plant - and if the plant gets to the books before I decide to re-read them ... well, the books are lost, aren´t they?
I did like them but between plants happiness and books wellbeings, I choose plants, always.
My favorite is the Inheritance Cycle
I like the Three Worlds series by Ian Irvine, starting with A Shadow on the Glass.It's a quartet of books, followed by a second quartet, followed by a trilogy, but all set in the same universe, with recurring characters. The worldbuilding is pretty neat.
I think the first fantasy series I read was David Edding's Belgariad, so that will also be a sentimental favourite.After that...
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb and The Tawny Man Trilogy. I absolutely love these novels.
The Deryni series by Katherine Kurtz. I started out with The Camber of Culdi ones but I think I have read most of them now...it's been a while, but they were so tragic and intricate, I loved the history she created.
The Crucible series by Sara Douglass.
A Song of Ice and Fire by GRMM (Even though the last book let me down a little, I'm still too invested in them to give up)
The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
I'm currently reading Tad William's Shadowmarch tetralogy (I'm up to the second book)
I love love love the Patrick Rothfuss books. I also really liked the Farseer Trilogy. Am a huge Harry Potter fan.
You mentioned Salvatore, I wonder if you have read any of the Dragonlance books, in particular the original books by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickmen starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Other good stuff...
Nine Princes in Amber
Empire of the East.
The Warlock in Spite of Himself.
A Spell for Chameleon.
Split Infinity.
Dawn of Wonder.
Most of what I see other people mentioning I would second the rest I cant since I have not read it.
I have recently read some series that I had never really heard of. First off was The Red Rising Trilogy. It was amazing!!! It does have a little more sci fi than fantasy but it's worth it. Also I read The Inheritance Trilogy by NK Jemisin and I really loved them. sorta different in a good way. The Queen of the Tearling series was okay and The Devine Cites by Robert Jackson were very very good. Hope you maybe haven't read any of these and find one of them worthy :)
Charles wrote: "Here are my top three:The Wars of Light and Shadow, Janny Wurts
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Stephen R. Donaldson"
I'll pop in to say The Wars of Light and Shadow is my all time favorite fantasy series. And a publication date has been set for the newest book in the series! Destiny's Conflict. It is officially September 7, 2017. And the author is hard at work on a new short story about the series.
Dune is way up high on my list . The rriyeria revelations must be my favorite recently. I read all of them in like 30 days. Broken empire also worth mentioning and the first law. I just started the way of kings and its shaping up that the stormlight archive might top the list:D
THE NAME OF THE WIND by PATRICK ROTHFUSS!!!!!!
My favourites would be (most were mentioned already):Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
Memory, Sorrow & Thorn - Tad Williams
Realm of the Elderlings - Robin Hobb
Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
Crown of Stars - Kate Elliott
Empire trilogy - Raymond E Feist & Janny Wurts
Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan (needed a lot of editing)
Void trilogy - Peter F Hamilton (scifi/fantasy cross-over)
Discworld - Terry Pratchett (not strictly a series, but awesome)
Deathgate Cycle - Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Incomplete series:
Demon Cycle - Peter V Brett
Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson
Song of Ice & Fire - George RR Martin
Some of my favorite fantasy series:- The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, of course!
- The Chronicles of Amber by Zelazny
- The Dresden Files by Butcher
- Harry Potter by Rowling
I see a lot of people mention Game of Thrones by Martin and Wheel of Time by Jordan but I'm just not a fan of either series.
I'll be starting my first "Dresden Files" book next month, so good to see it listed among your favorites, Michael.
I am fairly new to this genre (5 years, other than Lord of the Rings 40+ years ago), so here goes:1. Stormlight Archives (OK, I have only read the first one, but I love it (only 3 main characters)
2, Malazan (still on the first book, but Wow - I know, too many characters contradicts why I like Stormlight)
3. A Song of Fire and Ice (but not sure if it is the books or the HBO series)
4. Patrick Rothfuss (see #1)
Not a fan of:
1. Wheel of Time (but my adult son loves it). I am not a big fan of "let's take a journey, and see what happens along the way". This is too much like Lord of the Rings from that aspect. To be fair, I gave up 100 pages into book 2, so don't judge it by me.
On the Agenda (alog with a bunch of stuff):
1.
I am fairly new to this genre (5 years, other than Lord of the Rings 40+ years ago), so here goes:1. Stormlight Archives (OK, I have only read the first one, but I love it (only 3 main characters)
2, Malazan (still on the first book, but Wow - I know, too many characters contradicts why I like Stormlight)
3. A Song of Fire and Ice (but not sure if it is the books or the HBO series)
4. Patrick Rothfuss (see #1)
Not a fan of:
1. Wheel of Time (but my adult son loves it). I am not a big fan of "let's take a journey, and see what happens along the way". This is too much like Lord of the Rings from that aspect. To be fair, I gave up 100 pages into book 2, so don't judge it by me.
On the Agenda (alog with a bunch of stuff):
1.
Hit a wrong key (sorry). On the agenda:1. Sword of Truth
2. Brent Weeks
3. Abercrombie
WARNING: my taste in fantasy is a little twisted, I lean toward the dark and grittyThe Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombe
The Shattered Sea Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
The Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence
Conan series by Robert E. Howard
Sword of Shadows by J. V. Jones (providing it ever gets finished
The Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martian ( with misgivings, last couple books were sub-par and I don't think he will ever complete it)
Thieves' World (A shared-world anthology series by many authors.)
Wow!Awesome!
I haven't heard "Thieves World" mentioned in ages! One of my favorite "Shared-World" anthology series!
Shadowdenizen wrote: "Wow!Awesome!
I haven't heard "Thieves World" mentioned in ages! One of my favorite "Shared-World" anthology series!"
I know right. I wish a bunch of the popular fantasy authors today would get together and do something like Theives' World
I don’t have a lot of series under my belt yet, but so far I have a few I’m obsessed with: Tolkien (of course), The Belgariad series by Eddings, and Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. I have so many series to read. I’m definitely reading the Dark Elf trilogy soon!
Mod
Yes, The Stormlight Archive is great.
Stormlight Archive is amazing- Sanderson is an unparalleled genius-, but I prefer the overall Cosmere series ;) Best connected universe ever.
Stormlight Archive-SandersonMistborn-Wax & Wayne Era-Sanderson
Night Angel-Brent Weeks
Red Rising Series-Pierce Brown (get ready to throw your book across the room)
Kingkiller Chronicle-Rothfuss (his writing style and word usage is beautiful)
Lord of the Rings (first fantasy series I ever read)
Seven Realms Series-Cinda Williams Chima (Young Adult)
Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Destiny's Conflict (other topics)Nine Princes in Amber (other topics)
Empire of the East (other topics)
Dragons of Autumn Twilight (other topics)
A Spell for Chameleon (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Anne Macaffery (other topics)Marion Zimmer Bradley (other topics)
Tad Williams (other topics)
Ian Irvine (other topics)
David Eddings (other topics)
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I had not heard this either! That is just over the top.
A few years back I was looking for something different than my usual and found the Sookie Stackhouse books. I am glad to hear they are finished. I'll have to get the last few I never finished.