Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion
Best Reads and Recommendations
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Chris wrote: "Peggy wrote: "what would be the first fantasy book you suggest to a game of throne fan?!"I've only read the first book in the Game of Thrones series, so others would likely be more qualified to a..."
I'm buddy reading the witcher now thanks for ur recommendation <3
Peggy wrote: "I'm buddy reading the witcher now thanks for ur recommendation <3" You're very welcome! Hope you enjoy it.
Chris wrote: "Peggy wrote: "what would be the first fantasy book you suggest to a game of throne fan?!"I've only read the first book in the Game of Thrones series, so others would likely be more qualified to a..."
Cool! I loved the political stuff in AGoT, so thanks for this recommendation! :p I haven't been actively looking for similar-to-AGoT recs, but I wanna try some.
And Peggy, I've heard that the Fallen Kingdoms is like the YA version of the Game of Thrones. Not sure if you were looking for YA..
Maria wrote: "Cool! I loved the political stuff in AGoT, so thanks for this recommendation! :p I haven't been actively looking for similar-to-AGoT recs, but I wanna try some"No problem! Since I haven't gotten further into the GoT series (stubborn and don't want to continue until it's done, so.. gosh no clue when that will be), I don't know for sure how much attention the political stuff commands throughout the series as a whole, but impressions from others seem to be that it's pretty strong.
The Witcher may not be AS strong, as it still follows Geralt and this particular journey at its core, but like GoT; there are multiple regions all with different motives for wanting things done. It's pretty cool.
If you like morally gray characters and dark fantasy then the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is another great option. Book one is The Blade Itself :)
Chris wrote: "Hopefully this is the right spot, but what are some of everyone's favorite audiobooks here?I've never listened to an audiobook. In my head, I've always preferred print. Something about having the..."
My favorite narrator is Tim Gerard Reynolds. He narrated, among other things:
- Riyria Revelations, Riyria Chronicles & Legends of the First Empire by Michael Sullivan
- Broken Empire & Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown
- Threadbare by Andrew Seiple (very, VERY good LitRPG series, but wouldn't recommend for a first audiobook, as the stats being read might be a bit jarring)
Lots of people like the husband & wife duo Michael Kramer & Kate Reading. They did all Cosmere books by Brandon Sanderson. I'm personally not a fan of Kramer, but Kate Reading has a very soothing voice.
The First Law audiobooks are very good; the narrator really nails Glokta's voice in particular.
The Dresden Files are also a good choice for a first audiobook; they are read by James Marsters (yes, the guy that played Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer :p).
Finally, I've had a very good time with the audiobooks of the Ender saga and Shadow saga by Orson Scott Card. First time I ever listened to a full-cast audiobook (one narrator per character), and it was a treat!
Chris wrote: "I don't mind listening to something I've read before either if people really dig the audio for it. :)"
Actually, I'd advise you for your first audiobook to listen to a book you've read before. Not only it provides a new experience with the added intonations, dialogue rhythm and overall narrator's voice acting (a good one is capable of doing a distinctive voice for every character - even ones with a different gender), it also helps with concentration 'blips' as you're acclimating to the medium. No need to rewind if you've zoned out a bit, since you already know the story.
Virginie wrote: "My favorite narrator is Tim Gerard Reynolds. He narrated, among other things:- Riyria Revelations, Riyria Chronicles & Legends of the First Empire by Michael Sullivan
- Broken Empire & Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence"
Thanks so much for the detailed reply! Your first three suggestions are already in my "want to" section, so that's awesome to hear. I'll heed your advice on listening to a story I've read before, you make a lot of good points.
I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading those suggestions, but since I just started down the Sanderson tree last year with Mistborn, I may look into that. I've even seen where they have the full on audio performance for those with music and a full cast; sounds neat, but I may check out the couple you mentioned to "ease" into it. I'll keep an eye out for Tim Reynolds as well moving forward since you like him.
Thanks again for your reply!!
PS - Is a LitRPG what it sounds like? Like a game but through a book I guess? I know I didn't ask about that but that sounds intriguing. I may look into your suggestion as a print book and see what that's like.
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Maria wrote: "Chris wrote: "Peggy wrote: "what would be the first fantasy book you suggest to a game of throne fan?!"I've only read the first book in the Game of Thrones series, so others would likely be more ..."
I'm ok with young adults make me feel stupid again I like being stupid again
Bea wrote: "If you like morally gray characters and dark fantasy then the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is another great option. Book one is The Blade Itself :)"this one was new to me thanks I try to read it this year
Chris wrote: "Thanks so much for the detailed reply!"You're very welcome!
I'm always eager to get readers to discover the greatness of audiobooks haha :)
Chris wrote: "PS - Is a LitRPG what it sounds like? Like a game but through a book I guess? I know I didn't ask about that but that sounds intriguing. I may look into your suggestion as a print book and see what that's like."
Yup, it's exactly what it sounds like! :)
Either set in a world with RPG/Tabletop games mechanics or INSIDE a game - like a MMORPG but with Virtual Reality immersion technology (think Sword Art Online if you know the light novels / anime adaptation). I imagine there might also be novels about getting sucked into a D&D game Jumanji-style :D I think one of the defining factor of the genre is the focus on leveling-up through game mechanics rather than advancing the plot.
Other than Threadbare, a LitRPG series I really liked is Spells, Swords & Stealth starting with NPCs. Does a great job of subverting the tropes :) There's also little to no focus given to stats, skills and all (since the protagonists are not even aware they're in a game).
Does anybody have a recommendation for a book that was published when the author was under 25? I still need one for my Bingo challenge 😀I believe the Poppy War was a popular option for this challenge, but I've already read that one.
Bea wrote: "Does anybody have a recommendation for a book that was published when the author was under 25? I still need one for my Bingo challenge 😀I believe the Poppy War was a popular option for this chall..."
Maybe The Bone Season, I Am Malala or Eragon?
Also do we know how old Sanderson was when he first wrote White Sand? 🤔
Bea wrote: "Does anybody have a recommendation for a book that was published when the author was under 25? I still need one for my Bingo challenge 😀I believe the Poppy War was a popular option for this chall..."
I think I used Children of Blood and Bone. It was really good, but not sure if you're a fan of YA fantasy. :)
Bea wrote: "Does anybody have a recommendation for a book that was published when the author was under 25? I still need one for my Bingo challenge 😀I believe the Poppy War was a popular option for this chall..."
Frankenstein, The Bone Season, Origin
No idea if the last two are good, just books I had marked as possible choices back when I was doing my Bingo.
Virginie wrote: "Chris wrote: "Thanks so much for the detailed reply!"You're very welcome!
I'm always eager to get readers to discover the greatness of audiobooks haha :)
Chris wrote: "PS - Is a LitRPG what it ..."
Thanks again for an awesome explanation! That's a whole other genre I wasn't even aware of. I'm not on par with everyone else here regarding what I'm reading in the near future.. lol I look maybe 2 books ahead, but I'll keep all this in mind. Sounds pretty neat.
@Bea, you have many xcellent suggestions already...there is also The Diary of Anne Frank...that's what I'll be using...about time for a reread....
Chris wrote: "Thanks again for an awesome explanation! That's a whole other genre I wasn't even aware of. I'm not on par with everyone else here regarding what I'm reading in the near future.. lol I look maybe 2 books ahead, but I'll keep all this in mind. Sounds pretty neat."You're welcome :)
This group tends to make your Want-to-Read shelf explode in a matter of days, be careful :D
@ all, thanks for the suggestions!I think I might try Frankenstein since I already own it anyway. I believe I tried to read it as a teen but then put it down pretty quickly, so maybe it's time for another try 🙂
I am Malala is an interesting one, too, though.
I don't know if anyone has asked for recommendations based on this book yet since there are so many comments haha, but what would someone recommend for people who enjoyed Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo? I love it for it's excellent world building and diverse and unique characters. I don't really enjoy things that are constantly dark or move too slow, but I love how in Six of Crows there was a good balance of humor, action, and some dark themes. Does anyone know of books like that?
Alexandra wrote: "I don't know if anyone has asked for recommendations based on this book yet since there are so many comments haha, but what would someone recommend for people who enjoyed Six of Crows by Leigh Bard..."Have you read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch? These two are often compared and I loved both this and Six of Crows. :)
Alexandra wrote: "I don't know if anyone has asked for recommendations based on this book yet since there are so many comments haha, but what would someone recommend for people who enjoyed Six of Crows by Leigh Bard..."Book 2 Crooked Kingdom if you haven't read it yet.
I thought Aurora Rising also had the fun characters, humor, fast-moving plot, group dynamics, bit of romance, and heist storyline, but was a little less dark.
Elantris is also similar: dark, a bit gothic atmosphere (a prince wakes up one morning turned into an undead and is exiled to a rotting city that was once beautiful), star-crossed slow burn romance, sense of humor, clever solution, excellent world-building and magic system. Plus a princess turns into a revolutionary smuggler of weapons.
The Lightning Thief and all of its sequels including series 2 about the Roman gods: fun group dynamics, lots of humor and banter, diversity (especially in series 2), great world-building, fast-moving plot, exciting story lines, action. The series starts out Middle-Grade and then becomes more YA later in series 2. Please don't think this will be anything like the movies: they are utterly different and the movies sucked compared to the books. The humor in the early books can be a bit childish, though, but they're still hugely entertaining.
The Final Empire (Mistborn) - fun group, diversity, cool magic system and world-building, a bit of humor, a bit of romance, heist storyline, dark world but not bleak. Moves a little slowly at one point, but the exciting finale is worth it!
Thank you so much Siobhan and Eva!! I'll look up these books right away!
can anybody recommend me any contemporary book which is very light to digest... ( no romance please)
Kevin, if you like humorous Sci-Fi, Space Team series by Barry J. Hutchinson is a great way to relax with a book! Otherwise, try the Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaefer, or we just started the Dresden Files by J. Butcher in the Vagabond thread...
Hey guys. Does anyone have a recommendation for good debut novels? I need one for my Bingo Challenge.
Hi everyone. I'm looking for books similar to The Curse of Chalion and Flesh and Spirit
In other words great reads that involve reluctant MCs ( cause neither Caz nor Valen wanted to be heroes 😁), faith, magic and the human Spirit.
Can you recommend me something please?
Laura, have you read any of Juliet Marillier's books? I feel like they might be something you would like. Also Elizabeth and I just finished buddy reading the Kingfountain series and really enjoyed it, although it is YA.
Tammie wrote: "Laura, have you read any of Juliet Marillier's books? I feel like they might be something you would like. Also Elizabeth and I just finished buddy reading the Kingfountain series and really enjoyed..."I'm starting Dreamer's Pool today and have read her Sevenwaters series as well as Heart's Blood Loved them all.
Would there be any Bronze Age Fantasy, Roman/Ancient Greek, Mesoamerican fantasy?
Yes, of course! Here are some I know, but I haven't read most of them so best to read a few reviews to see which ones you will like:- Circe and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Lion of Macedon and Dark Prince by David Gemmell
- Servant of the Underworld and Obsidian and Blood by Aliette de Bodard
- From Unseen Fire by Cass Morris
- Daughters of Fire by Barbara Erskine
- The Lightning Thief etc. etc. etc. by Rick Riordan - set in present times, but involving all the old Greek, Roman or Egyptan gods, monsters and myths
- Daughter of the Forest + series by Juliet Marillier set in the late Roman / early Medieval time period in Ireland
- Cassandra by Christa Wolf
- The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
- Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
- A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
- Pandora by Anne Rice
- Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott
- The Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie
- The Eagle and the Raven by Pauline Gedge
- The Horse Goddess by Morgan Llywelyn
- Rhinegold and Gilgamesh by Stephan Grundy
- Gilgamesh the King by Robert Silverberg
- Sailing to Sarantium and by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan
- Furies of Calderon + series by Jim Butcher
- Lord of the Silver Bow + series by David Gemmell
- Two Serpents Rise + Last First Snow by Max Gladstone
...and so on, lots of choices.
Eva wrote: "Yes, of course! Here are some I know, but I haven't read most of them so best to read a few reviews to see which ones you will like:- Circe and [book:The Song of Achilles|11250317..."
Thx because my reading list has been mostly medieval europe and I am very tired of it. Give me more I'm happy to lap it all up
Especially any Ancient Egyptian stuff.
I just got done reading all of Michael G Manning’s books. Any recommendations towards books/series that are similar?
Hi all! Recently I started working and I'm gonna spend a lot of time in traffic while getting to and from work, so now I'm thinking of trying audio-books. That way, at least, I can use that time to experience some good books.
So what would be your fantasy audio-book recommendations for first time listeners? Are there any books that are particularly good in audio version?
Nic wrote: "I just got done reading all of Michael G Manning’s books. Any recommendations towards books/series that are similar?"I haven't read Manning, so it's a bit tricky to try to recommend something, but I've heard Sever Bronny mentioned as being similar. You could try Burden's Edge which sounds really good. You may also enjoy Brandon Sanderson, e.g. The Final Empire.
Lucija wrote: "Hi all! Recently I started working and I'm gonna spend a lot of time in traffic while getting to and from work, so now I'm thinking of trying audio-books. That way, at least, I can use that time t..."
I loved Becky Chamber's The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in audiobook form! It's really wonderful and even has a few sound effects/music added that I liked. Rob Inglis's reading of The Lord of the Rings is also really wonderful and special. Skyward was also great in audio format. Or if you'd like one read by a cast of narrators: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (can't provide a link right now because Goodreads is acting up).
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Recently I started working and I'm gonna spend a lot of time in traffic while getting to and from work, so now I'm thinking of trying audio-books. That way, at least, I can use that time t..."
I love love love anything by Michael J. Sullivan on audio. Tim Gerard Reynolds is my favourite audiobook narrator. Michael's books are not complicated to understand in terms of worldbuilding, making them easy to listen to, especially for a first-time audiobook reader. This is the first book in the Riyria Revelations: Theft of Swords.
Hello! I’m looking for some books that have a fire dancing topic. Ideally, fantasy (yaaaassssss), but life is life... :) looking forward to my next read!
@Eva @Jenna Thank you for the recommendations, they all sound amazing :)
I think I will start with either the Riyria Revelations or Skyward. Those have been on my TBR for quite some time.
Greta wrote: "Hello! I’m looking for some books that have a fire dancing topic. Ideally, fantasy (yaaaassssss), but life is life... :) looking forward to my next read!"
Fire Dancer seems to fit best :-)
Looking for my next series. Finally finished WOT. Love Stormlight Archives, GOT. Not so much WOT. My next choices are: Otherland, Icarus, Lightbringer, Foundryland. Which way should I go?
Hi John, I'm 200 pgs into The Black Prism ( Lightbringer#1 ) and it's excellent! The magic system is as unique and maybe more spectacularthan Mistborn. I've heard mixed things about the remaining 4 books, suppose I'll decide after this one. If you want to try some grimdark, anything
by Joe Abercrombie is brilliant. I've read the First Law trilogy, it's Characters are some of the best I've read in fantasy. Cheers.
Hello. I'm looking for recommendations on books with the name of a colour in the title (like Blue Lily, Lily Blue, etc.) for a challenge I'm participating in. I'm having a hard time finding them so any help would be great!
Maria wrote: "Hello. I'm looking for recommendations on books with the name of a colour in the title (like Blue Lily, Lily Blue, etc.) for a challenge I'm participating in. I'm having a hard time finding them so..."There are a few Goodreads lists as resources, although it's a hodgepodge, and not just SFF.
Books with colorful titles
I loved His Dark Materials which has both The Golden Compass and The Amber Spyglass for two colors.
Spinning Silver and The Blue Sword work as standalones.
All Systems Red is super fun, and a short novella, if you're trying to crunch to fulfill the challenge. Hm, for that matter, if short stories count, The Masque of the Red Death would do. Lots of red I feel. Redshirts. Red Rising...
Are there specific colors you need, or will any do?
Maria wrote: "Hello. I'm looking for recommendations on books with the name of a colour in the title (like Blue Lily, Lily Blue, etc.) for a challenge I'm participating in. I'm having a hard time finding them so..."Red Rising
Red Country
Jade City
The Black Prism
Melissa wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hello. I'm looking for recommendations on books with the name of a colour in the title (like Blue Lily, Lily Blue, etc.) for a challenge I'm participating in. I'm having a hard time f..."Thanks, Melissa! And yes, any color will do
The Golden Compass and Spinning Silver were on my tbr, but I can't find them in my local bookstore (Spinning was there just a few weeks ago!!) so I'm hunting for other ones
I've checked out lists similar to the one you mentioned, but I'm too picky lol. Thanks for all the recs!
Shaitarn wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hello. I'm looking for recommendations on books with the name of a colour in the title (like Blue Lily, Lily Blue, etc.) for a challenge I'm participating in. I'm having a hard time f..."Thanks! I'll check these out
Fantasy Buddy Reads
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I've only read the first book in the Game of Thrones series, so others would likely be more qualified to answer than me, but if you found the political stuff entertaining, then The Witcher would maybe entertain you. Once you get to the main narrative arc, it has a lot of that stuff. It also is similar in that it IS fantasy, but it is more grounded than some, if that makes sense?