Nancy Beck
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I love Malamutes!
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« Reply #50 on: January 23, 2012, 12:27:54 PM » |
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Try Lindsey Buroker's 1st book in the Emperor's Edge series:  I also now have the next book in the series, if that means anything to you.  I finished it about a month ago, and it's a great read. Takes place in a Londonesque, steampunk world. Not only is there a lot of action, there's also plenty of humor (like the companions the protag gets together to try to fleece the government; talk about a hilarious, motley crew!  ). And if you haven't read the Discworld novels, you should look into reading them - if you're into humorous fantasy, that is. |
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LisaBlackwood
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« Reply #51 on: January 23, 2012, 02:24:07 PM » |
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Anything by Brandon Sanderson.
I also enjoyed Jane Lindskold's FireKeeper series. (Haven't gotten into her new series yet)
I used to like Judith Tarr--and oldie but goodie.
Robin Hobb
....sorry, my brain just died.
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me3boyz
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« Reply #53 on: January 23, 2012, 07:18:22 PM » |
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Not usually one for epic-fantasy, I decided to give Brandon Sanderson a try. Settled on the Mistborn trilogy:  Book one was a bit of a slog for me at first. I kept looking at the percentage read & thinking "OMG...how much more is there!?" Glad I kept with it as the end is not what I thought. I also liked that not everything went their way. I've already started on the second book & am enjoying it much better. |
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LisaBlackwood
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« Reply #54 on: January 23, 2012, 07:25:14 PM » |
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Not usually one for epic-fantasy, I decided to give Brandon Sanderson a try. Settled on the Mistborn trilogy: Book one was a bit of a slog for me at first. I kept looking at the percentage read & thinking "OMG...how much more is there!?" Glad I kept with it as the end is not what I thought. I also liked that not everything went their way. I've already started on the second book & am enjoying it much better. One of my favs. |
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LisaBlackwood
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« Reply #55 on: January 23, 2012, 07:27:21 PM » |
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Try Lindsey Buroker's 1st book in the Emperor's Edge series: I also now have the next book in the series, if that means anything to you. Oh yes, this series is good too. |
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smallblondehippy
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« Reply #56 on: January 24, 2012, 03:42:07 AM » |
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If you are after some fantasy that is very original, I'd reccomend Ricardo Pinto's Stone Dance of the Chameleon series. This was the most refreshing and original series I've read in a long time.
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.
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Hippoglyph
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« Reply #57 on: January 24, 2012, 02:11:39 PM » |
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Well, I'm going to offer something old and something new as great fantasy books. The something old is "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" by Patricia McKillip. It concerns a sorceress who lives remotely in isolation with no company to speak of but the amazing and magical beasts she has used her powers to find and retain. The beasts are intelligent and speak to her. They have fairly good relationships with her, even though she has used her considerable powers to control them. The problem comes when notice of her existence spreads to warring kingdoms and the various kings wish to employ her gifts for their advantage. A beautiful, lyrical book, just incredibly moving and powerful. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Beasts-Magic-Carpet-Books/dp/0152055363/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327439334&sr=1-1. (I would've inserted an image of the cover, but not sure how that works here...) The something new is called "Hamlet Z", and it is pretty amazing. It's a revision of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", but the thing that's truly stunning about it is the writer's use of language. He hasn't just written a prose version of "Hamlet", he has actually taken the plot in a new direction, rewriting existing scenes and adding new ones, and his writing blends seamlessly with Shakespeare's. I wouldn't have thought something like that possible, but it's perfect, and the story itself is compelling. The writer has amplified the supernatural element already present in "Hamlet", setting up a situation where the murder of the king and the subsequent incestuous marriage has disrupted the natural order and so all over the world the dead are rising and descending on Denmark. I was just blown away by this thing, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Here's the link to the Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Z-ebook/dp/B006ZBGBR4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327439070&sr=8-2. The "look inside" preview has the entire first scene and a big chunk of the second scene, enough to get a sense of what I'm talking about. |
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Laura Lond
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« Reply #58 on: January 24, 2012, 07:13:30 PM » |
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I am reading and enjoying this one right now:  Well written, very interesting concepts. It's the first book of a trilogy. |
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DH_Sayer
Status: Madeleine L'Engle
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« Reply #59 on: January 24, 2012, 08:04:35 PM » |
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Everyone here seems way more knowledgeable about the genre than I, so I'd like to pose a question: I loved the DragonLance series when I read them a decade or so ago, specifically the Chronicles trilogy (I guess it turned into four books at some point). Is that regarded as good fantasy, or is it too lightweight to be given much consideration?
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RSHunter88
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« Reply #60 on: January 25, 2012, 05:20:56 PM » |
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Everyone here seems way more knowledgeable about the genre than I, so I'd like to pose a question: I loved the DragonLance series when I read them a decade or so ago, specifically the Chronicles trilogy (I guess it turned into four books at some point). Is that regarded as good fantasy, or is it too lightweight to be given much consideration?
Just to prove that not everyone's more knowledgeable about the genre, I've never heard of the DragonLance series. What's it about? Would you personally recommend it? |
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Sean Patrick Fox
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« Reply #61 on: January 25, 2012, 08:16:58 PM » |
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I'm 2/3 of the way through Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy and have enjoyed it so far. George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is great, but it's a massive commitment. I also like Roger Zelazny's Amber series, but I space out my reading of each book because they're so "out there" compared to the fantasy I normally read.
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ken magee
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« Reply #62 on: January 26, 2012, 10:17:00 AM » |
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I'd recommend Terry Pratchett as an author. try the Discworld series - I'd start at the beginning with The Color of Magic (Discworld Novels). The great thing is, if you like it, there are loads of others to keep you busy for ages. PS I also particularly liked Mort (Discworld Novel) - it's about Death's apprentice. |
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What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is sure, life will never be the same again!
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KateDanley
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« Reply #63 on: January 26, 2012, 02:10:15 PM » |
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Everyone here seems way more knowledgeable about the genre than I, so I'd like to pose a question: I loved the DragonLance series when I read them a decade or so ago, specifically the Chronicles trilogy (I guess it turned into four books at some point). Is that regarded as good fantasy, or is it too lightweight to be given much consideration?
Awwww! Dragonlance! No, that is perfectly respectable fantasy and holds a very dear place in the hearts of many a fantasy reader. And Sean, Dragonlance was a series written back in the 1980s which tied into this relatively unheard of role playing game called Dungeons & Dragons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance They wrote it while playing a D&D game and it spawned off a whole game module. |
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Joseph_Evans
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Author of The Seckry Sequence
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« Reply #64 on: January 26, 2012, 04:53:23 PM » |
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Have you tried Perdido Street Station by China Mieville?
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City of the Falling Sky - Book 1 in The Seckry SequenceUS Edition
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"Absolutely amazing! I could not put it down for one second, and by the end of it I was left speechless." Ema Sava, 15
“City of the Falling Sky is easily the best book I’ve ever read, to me even better than the Harry Potters." Jacob Foley, 13
“What an amazing book! Let’s hope the second one is just as good. I’d give it five stars!” Rhys Yip, 12
"Captivating, intoxicating, engrossing. Never before have I wished a fictional world existed so much. I was gripped tightly until the very last word." Victoria Hutchings, Waterstone's |
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anothersky
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« Reply #65 on: January 26, 2012, 06:51:38 PM » |
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A great read for classic fantasy are Patrick Rothfuss' first two books in the king killer cronicles( The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear); for womens fantasy try Sharon Shinn; for erotic fantasy Jacqueline Cary.
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Brad Murgen
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« Reply #66 on: January 26, 2012, 10:39:11 PM » |
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Everyone here seems way more knowledgeable about the genre than I, so I'd like to pose a question: I loved the DragonLance series when I read them a decade or so ago, specifically the Chronicles trilogy (I guess it turned into four books at some point). Is that regarded as good fantasy, or is it too lightweight to be given much consideration?
The only Dragonlance books worth reading are the Chronicles and Legends trilogies, in that order. Good, fun high fantasy. About the only D&D-style novels that are actually any good. I personally think they are great, particularly the Legends trilogy. Check out Storm Constantine's Wraeththu novels.
Best wishes, Stephen Livingston.
The first Wraeththu trilogy is awesome. I highly recommend it if you want something a little different. |
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RSHunter88
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« Reply #67 on: January 30, 2012, 06:16:14 PM » |
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Have you tried Perdido Street Station by China Mieville?
One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, though I have to recommend The Scar over Perdido just because it has a little bit better pacing. Also, pirates. |
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RuthNestvold
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« Reply #68 on: January 31, 2012, 11:12:59 AM » |
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Wow, way too many recommendations in this thread ... I personally never really got into The Name of the Wind. It was beautifully written, but it dragged for me. Don't know exactly why. Theoretically I'm the target audience. |
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JM Hurley
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« Reply #70 on: February 29, 2012, 05:17:26 PM » |
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Just wanted to say that I think your covers are beautiful Ruth. Wow, way too many recommendations in this thread ... I personally never really got into The Name of the Wind. It was beautifully written, but it dragged for me. Don't know exactly why. Theoretically I'm the target audience. |
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Saul Tanpepper
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« Reply #71 on: February 29, 2012, 05:34:50 PM » |
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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? I really like Allison Dickson's short stories, particularly Dust  |
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« Last Edit: February 29, 2012, 05:36:21 PM by undeadwriter »
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jolenekendry
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« Reply #72 on: March 01, 2012, 12:24:43 AM » |
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One of my favorites is fairly gritty modern fantasy, if that's the term. The Magicians by Lev Grossman, and then the sequel, The Magician King, which might be better than the first. A sort of high school figures into the first title but I can't imagine a less Twilighty fantasy novel.
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Winter9
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« Reply #73 on: March 04, 2012, 11:49:36 AM » |
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I would say there is none better than Kushiel and Namaah, absolutely none! If ever there was books entitled to "best book ever", those books are true candidats..
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Proud Kindle-owner since 2.February 2010 (15.22) Add me on goodreads: Winter9 Recommended: The Legend of Oescienne, by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson  |
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JIGreco
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Author. Doodler. Not a Writerbot 9000. Capiche?
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« Reply #74 on: March 19, 2012, 07:33:14 PM » |
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Go with the classics... classic Moorcock's Eternal Champion cycle (Elric of Melniboné, Corum, et al) and Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories. They're not Tolkien, and that's a good thing.
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