Not-So Retired Adventurer

[Adray]

Escapist fantasy where the MC(s) are pulled out of retirement for one last job?

"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" is already on my TBR but I'm already hoping it's a real trope.

[Michelle]

The Sword Defiant was a good one that has a retired cast of characters.

Also, Dragonsbane was very good. I treat it as a self-contained standalone because the sequels were both needless and awful. But I've read this many times.

[Adray]

Thank you! Dragonsbane is always treated as a classic and has sat on my TBR for far too long.

[Andrea]

Dragonsbane was what jumped into my head. The sequels I'd say weren't awful writing, because they REALLY got to me, which meant the writing was effective but they were awful in how very VERY grim dark they were. Dragonsbane is definitely standalone though so feel free to stop there.

[Adray]

Thank you so much! I don't usually go too dark, but if it's a standalone I might be able to.

[Andrea]

Dragonsbane itself is not dark, its the sequels

[Michelle]

Andrea wrote: "Dragonsbane itself is not dark, its the sequels"

Yes. The sequels were very different in feel from the first book.

[Jeremy]

Legend of Tal

[Tony]

I went through a period of reading everything I could find that Barbara Hambly wrote. I didn't think the sequels were too bad, but certainly not as good as the original. I'm pretty sure I still have my Hambly books in my bookshelves.

[NekroRider]

Adray wrote: "Escapist fantasy where the MC(s) are pulled out of retirement for one last job?

"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" is already on my TBR but I'm already hoping it's a real trope."

Have you already read Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames? That's pretty much the premise of that one, a band of retired monster-hunting mercenaries reunite for one last job. I found it a lot of fun.

[Adray]

Thank you all! I usually don't read fantasy by straight white guys, so I hadn't heard of some of these yet.