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On your end, he pretty much says at the end of his post no LitRPG or Cozy Fiction, or Sanderson...
Ah, I missed the LitRPG reference. I don't think I gave any Cozy or Sanderson.
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Another one--Blood Over Bright Haven--compelling characters, fast paced, and while there isn't much in the way of fighting, there is some big gut-punch bloody scenes. Also a new release last year.
Fantasy Buddy Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Blood Over Bright Haven (other topics)Kings of the Wyld (other topics)
The Devils (other topics)
He Who Fights with Monsters (other topics)
Unsouled (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rachel Aaron (other topics)Craig Schaefer (other topics)
S.A. Chakraborty (other topics)
Matt Wallace (other topics)
Rebecca Schaeffer (other topics)
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The first thing to pop into my head was Kings of the Wyld and its sequel... fast paced, interesting character dynamic--the author was inspired by rock bands in the 1970s, and translated that to mercenary bands in a fantasy world. Combat is scripted in a way that evokes rock concerts. A group of retired mercenaries getting the band back together to save their friend's (not so) little girl who is stuck in a city about to be overrun... The sequel is good too, but inspired by 1980s punk bands like Pat Benatar. I think the third book he's working on is 1990s boy band inspired.
When I think of character work, one of the authors I think of the most is Joe Abercrombie, and his most recent book The Devils definitely fits the "recent, stand-out characters, and snippy dialogue" requirements. Currently reading his Shattered Sea series, and while it's listed as Young Adult, it's more... just less explicitly grimdark and with late teen characters than a normal Abercrombie. Great characters, fast paced, good dialogue, and satisfying plot. None of the emo that has poisoned a lot of YA for me. He's also great at battles and action.
Cradle series (Unsouled) is very fast paced with great characters. Progression fantasy inspired by anime and Chinese wuxia genre. Been a while since I read it so I can't remember the dialogue specifically, but the vague memory I have is that it made me laugh a lot. Also great action--and very inventive fighting as the characters increase their skills and figure out new ways of using the powers they have. Series just finished up two(?) years ago.
Dungeon Crawler Carl also has great action, characters who will rip your heart out, and fast paced except for the normal LitRPG stats aspects. If you like video games the parts with stats & achievements etc probably won't slow you down. My current favorite series, and has some of the most imaginative and OMFG-I-CAN'T-BELIEVE-THE-AUTHOR-WENT-THERE-level audacious scenes. Highly recommend the audiobook. Book 8 expected this year.
He Who Fights with Monsters is another LitRPG with great action and snippy dialogue. The pacing can vary, but is usually fast. The main character, Jason, stands out for me more than the supporting cast but I tend to miss details when I do audio. The audio is very good. Book 12 either just came out or is coming out soon.
Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus (Fated--completed) and Stephen Oakwood (An Inheritance of Magic--book 3 out in Oct) are both fast paced with interesting magic systems that make for some great action. Underdog characters that have you rooting for them.
The Will of the Many is one of the newest books (other than the Devils) I can think of. Book 2 out soon and I am so excited!! Fast paced but not super action-heavy, though there is some great action. A lot of intrigue and moving pieces. Great characters and OMG moments.
Thinking of Will of the Many also led my thoughts to Shadow of the Leviathan (The Tainted Cup) and Empire of the Vampire. Both new series: Shadow of the Leviathan is ongoing, and Empire of the Vampire ends this year (also so damned excited). Shadow of the Leviathan is a Sherlock & Watson-style mystery series set in a sprawling Roman-style empire that runs on fungus. Not as much action, but fast paced and I love the dynamic between the two main characters. Empire of the Vampire is Jay Kristoff's response to sparkly vampires--no. Vampires are scary, deadly, and should make people piss themselves if they show up in the night. The characters--and books in general--are so much fun and there's great action. Interesting narrative style though--the whole series is unfolding as the MC, Gabriel, tells his story to a chronicler while in captivity. Similar to Kingkiller Chronicle. Except that the whole book is in quotes, literally as he tells it. And he's not a very reliable narrator. His voice is a lot of fun though. Good sarcastic humor.
Pierce Brown's Red Rising saga is almost complete--he's got one more book coming out soon--it's fast paced with a lot of bloody action both on hand-to-hand and starship level. Compelling characters and a lot of pain. Sometimes the strain and anticipation of future pain can be too much though. This series gets dark. Some introspection that borders on emo though not of the romantic type.
My last rec is the Scholomance (A Deadly Education) by Naomi Novik. I think it finished up 3 years ago? And it effing stuck the landing so good. Great characters and I love the MC's voice--inner narrative as much as the dialogue. One of the coolest things is the menagerie of horrible creatures the characters have to contend with, making for some jaw-dropping fights. That are usually over fairly quickly, so it's less action and more spectacle. Fast paced and devourable. It does have a romance in it, and the characters are teenagers at a school, but I also haven't found a romantasy I like yet and tend to avoid YA for the same reasons yet I LOVE this series. The things which turn me off on romantasy and YA (stop the stupid hypocritical emo gaaaah) were not a factor here. Me & Ann-Marie are going to binge it in December. Again. It's become a yearly thing for us since the trilogy ended.
Okay, I'm going to stop here. I hope something off this list strikes your fancy. I'd also ditto Iain's recs--Schaefer, Rachel Aaron, and Ilona Andrews all have great fast-paced series with good action. There's a lot of romance in Aaron and Andrews though, but it doesn't (usually) verge on romantasy. Some Paranormal Romance levels. I definitely ranted at the characters--especially Ilona Andrews's characters--but it didn't make me enjoy them any less.