June ReadUps: Fantasy

[Heather]

Escape into a fantasy novel this month, and join us here on ReadUps to talk about it!

Here are some fantasy titles in our digital resources:

Fantasy e-books and audiobooks available for checkout now on Overdrive/Libby

Fantasy e-books, audiobooks, comics, and movies on Hoopla (no holds!)

Fantasy audiobooks on RB Digital

To start us off, what are some of your favorite fantasy novels? What do you like about fantasy?

[Miranda]

I've been reading a lot of fantasy novellas the last year or so. My favorites so far have been the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire, the Tensorate series by J.Y. Yang, and books by P. Djèlí Clark.

A few standalone fantasy titles that I loved recently:
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
These three would probably be categorized under "weird fiction" instead of straight-up fantasy.

[Heather]

I keep hearing about Vita Nostra--I need to move it up my to-read list because I am a big fan of "weird" fantasy.

A few of my other favorites are:

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, a fascinating story based on both Yiddish and Middle Eastern mythology

Pivot Point by Kasie West, a young adult novel about a girl who can see the future in the form of the possible outcomes of any choice

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, a historical fantasy about assassin nuns (yes, assassin nuns) who have special abilities

[Christina O.]

I've been meaning to read The Golem and the Jinni for so many years! I'm glad to hear it's amazing.

I've been working my way through Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series and it's been a very reliable fantasy series to read. I need to read the last book soon.

Some of my favorites:

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson, first book in a series, it's a YA book about a princess who runs away before her arranged marriage to the prince of another kingdom. While building a new life for herself, she is pursued by the jilted prince and a mysterious assassin. It has romance, suspense, and the best world-building I have ever read.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik, a standalone novel about a girl who is chosen as a sacrifice to be given to the wizard who protects the village. This is the opening premise, but there's so much more to the story.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, a beautiful YA standalone about monster horses that come out of the sea each November, and the island people who risk their lives by catching and racing them. It's a great novel for people who love horses and/or people who love monster stories.

[Heather]

I was worried that I'd be lost while reading The Golem and the Jinni because I know nothing at all about either Yiddish or Middle Eastern mythology, but not at all--I was sucked in right away.

I'm glad you mentioned the Mistborn series, Christina, because that's been on my list. I've really enjoyed the other Brandon Sanderson books I've read (Elantris, Steelheart). His world-building is fantastic. Uprooted has been on my to-read list for a while, too, so I'm glad to hear that you liked it.

I love The Scorpio Races, too! The writing is so unique in that book. It's not exactly the same, but it sort of reminds me of The Night Circus in the way it creates a really lush, magical setting that you get swept into.

[Linda]

Im not a fantasy book fan but I thought I would give it a shot. So I checked out Good Omens, mainly because it was the only fantasy book recommend without a waiting list. I have read about 40 pages . I guess we will see if I like it or not.

[Heather]

Linda wrote: "Im not a fantasy book fan but I thought I would give it a shot. So I checked out Good Omens, mainly because it was the only fantasy book recommend without a waiting list. I have read about 40 pages..."

I commend you for trying a new genre! When I was really young, I wasn't a big fan of fantasy. I liked Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, but didn't read much other fantasy. But then I found the right books and realized that I like it after all. I think Elantris, which I mentioned above, was one of the first that roped me in.

Linda, let us know what you think of Good Omens! Has anyone else read it?

[Miranda]

Heather wrote: "Linda wrote: "Im not a fantasy book fan but I thought I would give it a shot. So I checked out Good Omens, mainly because it was the only fantasy book recommend without a waiting list. I have read ..."

Linda, I really liked Good Omens! I hope you enjoy it too, but it's not for everyone... the brand of British humor is pretty wacky, and the authors go into philosophical tangents that'll take you out of the action sometimes. Lots of fun, nevertheless!

[Haley]

For those who know me, know that I cannot talk about fantasy novels without recommending A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

This trilogy (with more books to come) includes classic fantasy elements like witches, vampires, time travel, and a little romance. What I really love about Deborah Harkness though, is that she is also a Historian and conducts thorough research on her subject matter for accuracy.

[Renee]

So many good recommendations here!

I've been cramming a lot of SF/F in the last year or so, both because I enjoy the genres (and where they overlap), and just to increase my literacy in these areas. I think my favorite recent fantasy has got to be Ann Leckie's The Raven Tower. She sprinkles in references to Hamlet and plays with using second person, both of which I like but may not be for everyone. I also really like that it's a stand-alone rather than a series.

In general, I've found Tor.com to be a pretty reliable source for fantasy that's both well-crafted and culturally diverse. I'm currently reading and liking the Tensorate series, which Miranda already mentioned, and the Afro-futurist Binti trilogy. And, of course, N.K. Jemison's Broken Earth series--which, like Binti, seems to have one foot in fantasy and one in scifi--is brilliant. Rivers Solomon's the Deep, about African mermaids and the pain and importance of remembering collective, traumatic history, is a piercing yet short read (or audiobook). Solomon wrote it in response to/conversation with Daveed Diggs' song of the same name, which is pretty cool imo.

In terms of more traditionally epic fantasy, I've also recently listened to the first two books in Sanderson's impressive Stormlight Archive, and am currently listening to Robert Jordan's Eye of the World (hurray for Libby!).

But I have to say, there will always be a special place in my heart for Robert Asprin's Myth series, which I read as a pre-teen and teenager. Another Fine Myth is the first book that made me laugh out loud (although maybe it would horrify me now, lol).

Haley, I've been wondering about A Discovery of Witches. I'll have to add it to my reading list!

[Christina O.]

Renee wrote: " think my favorite recent fantasy has got to be Ann Leckie's The Raven Tower. She sprinkles in references to Hamlet..."

Have you read The Queen's of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton? It's a retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear and it sounds amazing. It's been on my TBR for way too long and is one of those books that haunts me as it sits unread.

[Renee]

Christina O. wrote: Have you read The Queen's of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton? It's..."

I haven't read it, but it sounds interesting. Added to my TBR list!

[Heather]

Haley wrote: "For those who know me, know that I cannot talk about fantasy novels without recommending A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

This trilogy (with more books to come) includes..."

I love historical fantasy, especially when the author has done their research. It makes the setting even more interesting. I'll have to add A Discovery of Witches to my list!

One of my favorite historical fantasy titles is Circe by Madeline Miller. It's told from the perspective of the sorceress Circe from Greek mythology, who is most well-known from The Odyssey. Miller's book looks at Circe from a feminist perspective, and it's fascinating. I knew almost nothing about Greek mythology when I read the book, and it was still easy to follow and fascinating.

[Heather]

Renee wrote: "So many good recommendations here!

I've been cramming a lot of SF/F in the last year or so, both because I enjoy the genres (and where they overlap), and just to increase my literacy in these area..."

Thank you for all of these great recommendations, Renee! I like that you pointed out some culturally diverse titles. So many fantasy authors of color don't get the attention they deserve. I'm adding all of those to my list. I'm especially intrigued by the Deep by Rivers Solomon--I'd never heard of it, but it is such a fascinating premise.

Your post made me think of another book I've enjoyed that is sort of part fantasy, part science fiction, and is diverse: Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac. The protagonist is a teenage Apache hunter named Lozen. When she was younger, her family served the upper class, who were so genetically altered and augmented with technology that they were hardly human anymore. Then "the cloud" happened, and suddenly all of the world's electronic tech didn't work any more. Modern society fell apart, and tons of genetically engineered monsters were let loose to terrorize the remaining human survivors. As the world was falling apart, Lozen discovered that she has mysterious powers connected to her Apache heritage, and now people hire her to hunt the monsters. It's a unique and fascinating story, there's a ton of action, and Lozen is a fantastic character.

[Renee]

Heather, that sounds really interesting! I'm definitely adding it to my list.

I'm also going to have to learn how to read faster. There are just too many good books in the world. ;)

[Heather]

I was thinking the same thing, Renee! My to-read list only grows bigger, never smaller. I can't keep up with all the good books out there.

[Miranda]

No offense, but these discussions DO NOT HELP ME keep my TBR list under control. :D

[Janice]

I don't read a lot of fantasy, being more a fan of science fiction. But one of my favorite sci-fi authors wrote a number of books that cross both genres. Grass and Raising the Stones by Sheri S. Tepper are two of my favorites by this author.
I recently read The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, on my daughter's recommendation. It was excellent.

[Heather]

Janice wrote: "I don't read a lot of fantasy, being more a fan of science fiction. But one of my favorite sci-fi authors wrote a number of books that cross both genres. Grass...

I also love books that combine fantasy and science fiction! One of my favorites that blends the two is Cinder and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The series is inspired by typical fairy tales including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel, and there is a fair amount of magic. However, it also has elements of science fiction in that it uses science to explain some of the magical powers, and it takes place in a future with some interesting technologies (Cinder is a cyborg, for instance). It's unlike anything else I've ever read, and I was totally hooked from page one until the end.