What was your best fantasy read in 2013 and why?

[Bev]

What was your biggest and best or the one that made you go "wow"? What book got your 5 star rating? What book of 2013 was your favourite ( I know US/UK spelling alert) and why?

[Bev]

I think that the most enjoyable for me was the Wool omnibus which tecnhically are sci fi not fantasy. I also enjoyed Michael Sullivans books.

[Sandra]

I can't narrow it down to one, but there are three - The Whitefire Crossing, Swordspoint, and Blood Song that I liked mighty well.

[Bev]

Sandra wrote: "I can't narrow it down to one, but there are three - The Whitefire Crossing, Swordspoint, and Blood Song that I liked mighty well."

Ah I have Blood Song. I just need the time to read it!

[Scott]

Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan because he brought the fun back to fantasy with just a great story with riveting characters, adventure, intrigue, heroes, bad guys, adrenaline and oh yea...one hell of a good yarn!

[Maggie]

I think mine was The Rook

[Lee]

I reviewed my reads for last year and I think I am going to have to go with The Shadow of the Wind. I think mainly because it was a complete surprise to me how much I enjoyed it. The preview and what I had heard of the story didn't sound terribly exciting, but once I started reading I was completely immersed in the story and felt afterwards that I had read a wonderful rather than a good or great book.

[John]

The Blood Song By Anthony Ryan.

[Martha]

reread a lot of stuff - Swordspoint, A Companion to Wolves, The Tempering of Men and read Flame of Seven Waters

[Lindsey]

The two fantasy books that blew me away this year were Ship of Destiny and Without a Summer. Both had amazingly real characters and writing that let me become totally immersed. Without a Summer in particular was an incredible example of craft; Kowal really went the extra mile to get the social customs and language right.

I also greatly enjoyed Hobb's Tawny Man trilogy and the conclusion of the Wheel of Time saga.

[Weenie]

I rated five books 5 stars in 2013 and the one fantasy book was The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie.

Why? Bloody battles and great characters, with a touch of very much British humour.

[Matina (Alassra)]

For me it was The Curse of Chalion. Lois McMaster Bujold is a phenomenal writer. Moreover i enjoyed Michael J. Sullivan's books, they were a nice change from the dark/bloody kind of fantasy that seems to be the trend in the last years

[Em Lost In Books]

Mistborn Trilogy and The Rithmatist for their excellent stories and magic systems.

[Kasey]

Definitely the new releases by Michael J. Sullivan topped my best reads. I'm so impressed and love these books so much I keep links to them at the top of one of my blog pages. He's one of the few authors I'd buy everything he writes because I know it'll be worth it. He made me fall in love with fantasy.

[Tara]

The books I read and really enjoyed in 2013 and got 5 stars were:

1. Warbreaker The magic system and story line were both amazing.
2. The Blinding Knife another amazing book in terms of magic system and story line, can't wait for the third book coming out this year.
3. Shadowfever great book to complete the series..

[Mica]

I really enjoyed Price of Thornes, It's brutality is at the top of its class. I know it's definetly not for everyone but I grew to love Jorg and his whimisical ways of plunder, rape and murder.

[Joseph]

My favorite new (to me, at least) books were probably Range of Ghosts and Shattered Pillars, the first two books in Elizabeth Bear's Eternal Sky series -- epic fantasy in a vaguely Mongol steppe setting -- and Miserere: An Autumn Tale by Teresa Frohock, which was unexpected and beautiful.

[Henry]

I enjoyed Mistborn, The Blade Itself and Theft of Swords.

[Henry]

Oh and also Cirque du Freak.

[Ian]

The broken empire trilogy by mark lawrence,the best books ive read in a long time. Also magician by raymond e feist i havnt read it until a few weeks ago and thought it was fantastic.

[Sleepninja]

I read quite a few good fantasy books last year, but the one that stood out the most was Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I was sucked in by the very first page and couldn't put it down until I finished. :)

[David]

Amanda wrote: "I read quite a few good fantasy books last year, but the one that stood out the most was Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I was sucked in by the very first page and couldn't put it down unt..."

One of my favourite books, Amanda, I've read the entire series twice, some of the books three times. My favourite of last year: The mistborn trilogy.

[Elise]

I had several I rated five stars, but I think my favorite was Perdido Street Station. Overall though, my year was mixed. It wasn't the best year of reading for me.

[Maggie]

Lee wrote: "I reviewed my reads for last year and I think I am going to have to go with The Shadow of the Wind. I think mainly because it was a complete surprise to me how much I enjoyed it. The preview and w..."
Too funny-that was a big favorite of mine a few years ago...again, awonderful sense of place, plus a true ot itself melancholy....Loved it

[Joseph]

(If I was going to totally cheat, I'd say Lord of the Rings was my best of the year. But that'd be true of any year in which I read Lord of the Rings.)

[Sirius]

Best of my reads in 2013 (no 6-stars novels last year) only a 6-star short 'Defending Elysium'. Also, I loved the Fionavar Tapestry. Those were my first Guy Gavriel Kay reads. Brought out so much emotions, and my favorite scene, Diarmuid's last fight. Also was surprised by Riyria revelations, didnt know I had been reading too much dark/serious fantasy until the humourous Riyria reads.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I read some excellent fantasy last year, the three that have stood out are A Memory of Light an excellent conclusion to someone else's series. The Cloud Roads this started an excellent trilogy which was very different to others I'd read. Finally, I'm also going with the delightful Jorg who has been previously mentioned.

[Scott]

For me, the Theft of Swords, Michael Sullivan, and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

[Hudson]

Scott wrote: "For me, the Theft of Swords, Michael Sullivan, and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch."

Too funny, I agree with your post 100%!

[Bill]

Finished the last four books in the Malazan Book of the Fallen which were all amazing. Also really enjoyed The Red Knight.

[David]

Bill wrote: "Finished the last four books in the Malazan Book of the Fallen which were all amazing. Also really enjoyed The Red Knight."

Come across a good few people praising this book. Another for the to read list :~)

[Bev]

Wow what a fantastic eclectic selection. Brilliant. List making time.

[Ctgt]

Sirius wrote: "Best of my reads in 2013 (no 6-stars novels last year) only a 6-star short 'Defending Elysium'. Also, I loved the Fionavar Tapestry. Those were my first Guy Gavriel Kay reads. Brought out so much e..."

Have not read Tapestry yet but my favorite this year was The Lions of al-Rassan. His prose style really speaks to me and I always feel very connected to his characters.

[Bev]

Ctgt wrote: "Sirius wrote: "Best of my reads in 2013 (no 6-stars novels last year) only a 6-star short 'Defending Elysium'. Also, I loved the Fionavar Tapestry. Those were my first Guy Gavriel Kay reads. Brough..."

Oh do read the Fionovar tapestry, I love it.

[Leslie]

Bev wrote: "Ctgt wrote: "Sirius wrote: "Best of my reads in 2013 (no 6-stars novels last year) only a 6-star short 'Defending Elysium'. Also, I loved the Fionavar Tapestry. Those were my first Guy Gavriel Kay ..."

I second that nomination. Wonderful books. Also the last light of the sun, and the sarantine mosaic books are great. Kay is a one of my favourite fantasy authors.

My best read this year was the night angel trilogy by Brent weeks. 5+ stars!

[Ctgt]

Bev wrote: "Oh do read the Fionovar tapestry, I love it."

All his titles are on my list, now it's just a matter of getting to them.

[Leslie]

Oh and I loved The Passage and The Twelve

[Hannah]

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch. I waited for that book for almost seven years and finally holding in my hands was amazing. It did not disappoint!

[Lee]

Too funny-that was a big favorite of mine a few years ago

If I am checking out a book and see that you reviewed it favorably it certainly puts my mind at ease as to how much I am going to enjoy it. We certainly have similar tastes in what we like in a story.

[Steven]

My absolute fav is The Rook and then Blood Song

[jxssicaL]

my five star rating goes to the fallen star series by Jessica Sorensen in 2013
I loved this book so much! It's a book that's gripped me from the start and I couldn't put it down. The characters are brilliant and relatable. The story line has everything from love to hate; action to romance! If you haven't read this series and your a fan of the fantasy genre then you need to read this! :)
x

[Sieger]

Mine was probably The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I really enjoyed this quick read by my favourite author.

[Konna]

Without a doubt The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I loved it really much, it was an easy read, but sentimental and in the end it left me with a bitter-sweet feel that I couldn't get over for days. Another book that I loved was Cloud Atlas, but I suppose this falls into Sci-Fi genre. And finally A Game of Thrones. I decided to begin with this series and the first book was so interesting that I'm definitely going to continue with this one!

[Ungar5]

it wasnt such a great year of fantasy books for me.
other than Warbreaker by brandon sanderson (which was absolutly amazing. i loved the world, the magic, the plot... just evrything) and the final WoT book, A Memory of Light by robert jordan, nothing quite made it to 5 stars...
those that were close are Lies of Locke Lamora and Shadows Edge (the rest of Night Angel wants as good).

[Olga]

In 2013, I read many good fantasy books, but one author stands out. In 2013, I discovered Terry Pratchett. His Guards! Guards!, Night Watch and other books were the brightest reading highlights of the year.

[Gregor]

I didn't get as much reading done last year as i normally do, and that cut down mostly the fantasy stuff I read, so I guess I only read 5 full books last year. All of which were good, none blew me away though.

I guess I will go with the Malazan Books (#2 and #3), and I will continue reading this series at some point.

[Sadie]

Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson was hands down the best read of 2013 for me.

[S.J.]

I'm terrible for forgetting to update my bookshelves here but I'd have to say my best fantasy read for this year was a toss-up between A Memory of Light and The Rithmatist.

[Lee]

My favorite "new to me" book of last year wasBoy's Life. A truly magical book. A close second was The Terror.

[Milda]

The Top:

1. - it swept me off my feet

2. and Gentleman bastards series

3. and Demon Cycle series - not as good as the first two, yet something about the hostile world with demons, circles of protective runes, the intence scary scenes that makes you hold your breath - captured my imagination. It was the first book I read this year and it rewoken my appetite for reading after 10 years of slumber - so it deserves to be here.

4. and Phedres trilogy