In Dire Need of Some Good Fantasy Books

[MLouring]

I have been feeling incredible uninspired as of late, and it seems like none of the books I have lying around are worth reading...
Any books you guys can recommend? I love a good paranormal or fantasy book!
I'm pretty flexible, as long as they doesn't contain weak, annoying or flawless heroines or a protagonist who goes to high school. I have run into waaay too many books trying to appeal to the Twilight fangirls! I need some quality plots and characters who have more personality than a doorknob
 
Any must-reads for me?

[flipside]

If you're open to short stories, I enjoyed After the Apocalypse by Maureen McHugh (collection) and the anthologies Eclipse Four edited by Jonathan Strahan and Teeth edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling.

If you're exclusively looking for novels, I did enjoy Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine, Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley, and The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman.

[sarahsbloke]

The three Hearts and the Three Lions by Poul Anderson
'Dwellers in the Mirage' and 'Face in the Abyss' by A. E. Merritt (free for you from Gutenberg Australia as you live in Denmark)
The BirthGrave by Tanith Lee
The Many Coloured Land by Julian May

All older books, so much inferior quality stuff written recently that it's hard to find new fantasy worth reading.

[Ben White]

Fantasy is languishing a little these days, but here's a couple I read and enjoyed recently (well, over the last year or so):



Technically fantasy? Alternate history kind of thing, it seems to be free right now:




This was recently released by the same author, although I haven't read it yet:



And I'm almost hesitant to recommend this one because it's just a short and there's currently nothing to follow it, but I enjoyed it:


Finally, there's this. I don't know if you'd call it fantasy--actually I don't know what you'd call it, but it's fun and funny and interesting:

[Masha du Toit]

I loved "the hunting of the last dragon" by Sherryl Jordan.

[Colin Taber]

I'll second Treespeaker, I really enjoyed the read.

Why not also try a classic like John Wyndham's The Chrysalids. I reread that book every couple of years. I love it.

[RuthNestvold]

I read Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman about a year ago and really liked it. I'm waiting to pick up the rest of the trilogy until the price of the last book in the series comes down a bit.

I used to love George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, but I'm struggling with the newest one.

[Susan Alison]

This is what I'm failing to find - books to take the place of GRRM's - which really suck me in so completely I am oblivious to everything around me (esp his earlier ones). I've tried so many other books to try and find something equivalent, but have failed miserably. Any suggestions for that kind of fantasy???

I have already read Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robert Jordan, Frank Herbert (Dune) etc but feel I must be missing a whole chunk of fantasy literature somewhere.

Thanks in advance.

I used to love George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, but I'm struggling with the newest one.

[Colin Taber]

This is what I'm failing to find - books to take the place of GRRM's - which really suck me in so completely I am oblivious to everything around me (esp his earlier ones). I've tried so many other books to try and find something equivalent, but have failed miserably. Any suggestions for that kind of fantasy???

I have already read Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robert Jordan, Frank Herbert (Dune) etc but feel I must be missing a whole chunk of fantasy literature somewhere.

Thanks in advance.

If you want gritty fantasy try Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, if you're actually after something epic, try The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III.

[MariaESchneider]

If you like Robin Hobb and GRRM, you might like Scott Lynch.

Me, I like my fantasy lighter and funnier and ... perhaps even cozier.  All the Paths of Shadow by Frank Tuttle was a good read.  Cross between steampunk and old fashioned fantasy adventure. 

[Carolyn62]

Terry Brooks' Shannara books are great.

[Geoffrey]

Here is a thread with some great recommendations:  Fantasy.   But, since it's more fun to give new recommendations than to rely on old ones, how about this:

* Katherine Kurtz' Deryni Trilogies are wonderful fun.  Unfortunately, only the first trilogy is available on kindle - the later ones just get better and better and she fleshes out their world.

* Raymond Feist's Midkemia novels are also great fun and all but the first series, Riftwar, are available on kindle.

I'm sure I'll have more later ..... .....

[RuthNestvold]

Ah, yes, a woman after my own heart. Have you read Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana? That's one of my favorites, a definite keeper.

You might like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart, if you haven't already read it. Big world, lots of political complications. Disturbing sexual mores, but GRRM is not exactly lightweight in that respect either.

I would also recommend Carol Berg's Transformation and the other two books in the trilogy. They too felt like Big Picture fantasy to me.

This is what I'm failing to find - books to take the place of GRRM's - which really suck me in so completely I am oblivious to everything around me (esp his earlier ones). I've tried so many other books to try and find something equivalent, but have failed miserably. Any suggestions for that kind of fantasy???

I have already read Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robert Jordan, Frank Herbert (Dune) etc but feel I must be missing a whole chunk of fantasy literature somewhere.

Thanks in advance.

[MariaESchneider]

Here is a thread with some great recommendations:  Fantasy.   But, since it's more fun to give new recommendations than to rely on old ones, how about this:

* Katherine Kurtz' Deryni Trilogies are wonderful fun.  Unfortunately, only the first trilogy is available on kindle - the later ones just get better and better and she fleshes out their world.

* Raymond Feist's Midkemia novels are also great fun and all but the first series, Riftwar, are available on kindle.

I'm sure I'll have more later ..... .....

I second Kurtz.

You might also like Brandon Sanderson (epic adventure type fantasy.)

[JayPosey]

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, and Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles are both, in my opinion, good reads.  (The Name of the Wind is the first book in the Kingkiller trilogy.)

Jay P.

[Todd Thorne]

I'd recommend taking a look at Marion Zimmer Bradley's works. The Mists of Avalon is one I reread regularly and the Darkover series is amazing.

--Todd

[Kathelm]

I'll second Sanderson.  You can't go wrong.  Terry Pratchett is also indispensable if you want something lighthearted.

David Edding's Belgariad is a fun, pulpy read.  Most of his stuff is good.  Just stay away from The Dreamers.

[JM Hurley]

I love fantasy but it means different thing to different people so not sure if your definition of fantasy will be mine!

If you like syfy fantasy have you tried the Rama books by Arthur C. Clarke?

Also I loved Doris Lessing's Canopus in Argos series.

For a more weirdy historical fantasy what about The Chymical Wedding by Lindsay Clarke.

Modern day fantasy best for me is Watchers by Essi Tolling. It is below in my signature. As we are in the same writing group I admit bias but it's a brilliant book with alternate history, a bit of syfy, myth, legend and modern day conspiracy and intrigue. A real page turner with no high school or vampires at all!

And of course if you like fantasy with a lot of humour then the early Terry Pratchett books, especially those featuring Rincewind are hilarious.

  Justina

[me3boyz]

The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop:

      

She's one of my favorite authors. She has a number of other books about the Blood, but the original three are still my favorite.

[flipside]

Ah, yes, a woman after my own heart. Have you read Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana? That's one of my favorites, a definite keeper.

You might like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart, if you haven't already read it. Big world, lots of political complications. Disturbing sexual mores, but GRRM is not exactly lightweight in that respect either.

I second the Tigana recommendation (a great standalone novel too).  Same goes for his other novel, The Lions Of Al-Rassan.

The Kushiel series is also lengthy if you're looking to fill that GRRM void. There's two trilogies in that milieu if I'm not mistaken (three if count the Naamah books).

[Ty Johnston]

If you liked GRRM, you might enjoy Steven Erikson's Malazan Books of the Fallen. 10 books, but the series is now complete. It's quite dense reading at times, and not for everyone, but I found it worth the work. Particular scenes can tear one's heart out, while others can make one cry with joy.

[jwest]

I agree with the people recommending Brandon Sanderson

Also, my wife and I just finished reading The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker. It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters. It's a fast-paced story, but I like that! If you are looking for something different, you should check out.

[RobynH]

I've got one you have GOT to read!
Angela's Coven by Bruce Jenvey
Absolutely could NOT put it down! It gets nothing but 5-star reviews on both the Amazon and B&N sites.
It's the story of a modern day witch who helps a dying Rock Star break his deal with the Devil, but it's more about her coven in upstate NY, the characters you meet there and real guardian angels that work in secret and carry guns. It was exciting, hilarious and you'll go through a lot of kleenex before it's done. GREAT story, but really, pretty believable. No hokus pokus or magic wands at all. REALLY different! Enjoy it, I loved it!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbH92Lrrtdg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbH92Lrrtdg</a>

[MLouring]

Wow, hadn't expected that many replies!
Thanks for all the great recommendations, I can't wait to starting reading some of them ^^

[StephenLivingston]

Check out Storm Constantine's Wraeththu novels.
Best wishes, Stephen Livingston.