please recomend a good fantasy series

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Michael wrote: "And as a way of paying it forward I would like to mention Anthony Ryan's Blood Song as a series that holds great promise. He has only one book out at the moment, but if the others in the series turn out as well as this one does - then it will be a fine series."

See, herein lies the issue. Jordan, Martin, Goodkind, et al, have so inured me to starting a series as the first book is published. These series have, conservatively, been unfinished for CENTURIES now. (Well, except Goodkind - but he keeps PRETENDING it is unfinished.) I am really tired of waiting. :D And, I apologize to all the others out there who can't get their 2nd book published because no one will read the 1st until the final book is written. This is the paradox we, both readers and authors, have been dealt.

[Michael]

Yeah, true enough. It certainly was a huge weight off my sholders having Riyria Revelations finished. And nice being in that "finished series" list. But you are correct, if people "wait" until the series is finished then authors will never get the rest of their books finished.

Ryan's book is first in a series but it is self-contained and ends the episode satisfyingly. Yes the door is open for the longer series but I don't think you'll get done and feel cheated with the first book even if the second never comes into being.

[Kris]

Hi All, i have just joined this group as this is by far my most favorite genre and hoping to mingle and get some good recommendations for other literature to read.

I would recommend the below trilogies, however they are both still pending a final book.

[Todd]

I highly recommend The Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne which starts with Hounded. This is my favorite new series. I burned through the first 4 books in about a week and can't wait for the new one to come out. There are a few peripheral short stories too.

[Razmatus]

A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R.R. Martin and Malazan Book Of The Fallen by S.Erikson (plus Novels of the Malazan Empire by I.C.Esslemont, co-creator of the world of Malaz; with latest addition Forge of Darkness by S.Erikson, a novel set in deep past of this world :P) come to mind :P

[John]

A long series (around 15 books) and the last in the series was just published in paperback is Repairman Jack by F. Paul Wilson (http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...)

[Brian]

An old series that I really enjoyed was "The death gate cycle ". Don't see it often mentioned .

[Nichelle]

Omg SO many I can recommend!! Just take a look at my bookshelf of "Read" and that will get you started. I'm new to getting on Goodreads on a regular basis so I haven't organized my shelves properly yet so you'll see a small mix of genres on that shelf. The fantasy ones aren't very hard to pick out though. :)

[Mark]

Try j v jones and Jenny jones
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/j...

[Gary]

Stephen Godden's 'Tales of the Shonri' - He adds a new tale every two weeks on http://writerlot.net/writerlot.htm

[David]

I highly recommend the works if Joe Abercrombie. Mature reading, to be sure, but so excellent.

[Clinton]

Im not sure if it was mentioned but The Black Prism by Brent Weeks is pretty good and the first two books are already out.

[Jae]

What a treasure trove. Great question, great answers. I feel a book buying spree coming on.

I'll second (third? fourth?) the various recommendation of Robin Hobb's series http://www.fictiondb.com/author/robin...
I've loved them all, except the Rain Wilds Chronicles. I've only read the first book, but I felt cheated because it seemed to be a trailer for the next book rather than a complete story in its own right.

I second Gary's comment about "Tales of the Shonri"; great characters, fascinating world, lots of action.

I'm not sure if this crosses fantasy/sci fi lines, but I also really enjoy the Julian May series, particularly the Galactic Milieu series and the Saga of the Pliocene.
http://www.fictiondb.com/author/julia...

[Weenie]

Brian wrote: "An old series that I really enjoyed was "The death gate cycle ". Don't see it often mentioned ."

I'd second this series, still got 3 to read but have loved the first 4.

On the subject of Erikson's Malazan series, I re-read book 1 recently, finding it much more enjoyable the second time round and giving me the incentive to continue with the series.

[M.M.]

The Farseer Series by Robin Hobb has been my all time favorite. To be honest, I haven't found anything I liked as much, but Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Series is pretty good and Brent Weeks' Night Angel series is good too.

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin is heavier on the battle and bloodshed with and stometimes the fantasy side seems a bit overwhelmed by this, but its definitely there. It requires a strong stomach for some, but I love its medieval elements.

[Todd]

A lot were mentioned but I will make a quick list.

Robin Hobb - Farseer Triology is great.
David Gemmell - Traditional and Enjoyable.
Michael J. Sullivan - Riyria Revelations - Traditional and Enjoyable.
Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow & Thorn
* Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn - He's quite a worldbuilder
* Brent Weeks - Dark Angel Series & Lightbringer(Unique Magic)Scott Lynch - Lies of Locklea
Douglas Hulick - Among Theives
Courtney Schafer - Whitefire
Elspeth Cooper - Songs of Earth
Blake Charlton - Spellwright (Unique Magic System)

Patrick Rothfuss - Very mature Harry Potter-like
Trudi Canavan - Black Magicians - Female/Harry Potter-like

Realistic/Darker
* Joe Abercrombie. - Realistic
Mark Lawrence - Broken Empire - Dark
* Peter V. Brett
George RR Martin
Glenn Cook
Raymond Feist - Is some good light reading.

Robert Jordon's series is worth it now that it is ended and was finished well.

[Ed]

So many great comments here. I am going to try Sanderson and the first law series. I also have robin Hobbs Farseer on my list. I hadn't read tad Williams but I see that gets a lot of Recs. People seem divided on Hobbs and Lynch.

[Vaelin]

Devin wrote: "Ive read the Wheel of time series to 7 then got a little bored. I have read brent weeks way of the shadows trilogy. and terry goodkind. I have read the game of thrones but dont want to contiue unti..."

I read until wheel of time 6 then threw it in the trash

[Todd]

The Farseer books are a lot better. To be honest I'm a pretty easy going with fantasy books.Shaman's Crossing (Soldier Son, #1) by Hobb is pretty useless. I've tried to read the Magic ship series but can never seem to get into it.

Lynch is definitely worth reading. I've never really talked to anyone who dislikes his books.

[Ed]

I agree. I haven't heard anyone not like Lynch