SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping. So, I am looking for some mighty fantasy read - I loved The Name Of The Wind, but Cook's Black Company was tried twice, and unfinished also twice. Uprooted was praised by me, while Six of Crows was meh. I like my fantasy as high as it might get. Throw in some dragons or elves or dwarfs. And pour some magic. Sprinkle some fantastic landscapes, heroic deeds, battles, wicked evil nemesis. Top with something really unique. Tadaaaa!

A very good friend of me swears by the books of Robin Hobb. I think this might be a very enchanting first fantasy experience

Let me recommend the Firekeeper series by Jane Lindskold. Really engaging, likeable, relatable characters and everything you could want in a fantasy novel. Also, consider the Deverry novels by Katharine Kerr. Intriguing take on the concept of destiny and reincarnation! Magic galore.

Anneke wrote: "A very good friend of me swears by the books of Robin Hobb. I think this might be a very enchanting first fantasy experience"

Hi, Anneke! I tried Assassin's Apprentice by Mister Hobb, and while it was fine, I didn't continue the series. Somehow think it was made for a younger audiences. But I have The Dragon Keeper in my To Read list, so I am tempted to give it a go!

Samantha wrote: "Let me recommend the Firekeeper series by Jane Lindskold. Really engaging, likeable, relatable characters and everything you could want in a fantasy novel. Also, consider the Deverry novels by Kath..."

Hello! Thank you! Fire keeper sounds a little too wolfy, but Deverry caught my eye.

I’ve just finished reading A Bond of Venom and Magic by Karen Tomlinson.
It’s a bit YA’ish but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kept me hooked til the end and eager for book 2.
Definitely worth a look in my opinion.

I love The Way of Kings. It's a huge book, but if you love epic fantasy with creatures and wars and magic and gods...this is it.

The Malazan books are on my TBR and have a cult following. Steven Erikson is the author.

I see you have enjoyed atmospheric books like Night Circus. If you also liked Uprooted, you may enjoy Deathless which is just a glorious, rich story for people who like that Russian fairy tale style.

Have you done A Wizard of Earthsea? If you read it, you'll see a lot of similarities to Name of the Wind, I think!

I also can't forget Sabriel. If you're looking for something imaginative and different, but still high fantasy, there you go!

Have you read Magician by Raymond E Feist? The whole series is amazing. Also Legend by David gemmell. The Sparhawk series by Eddings. Battle mage by Peter Flannery. Could recommend so many :-)
Good luck with finding the perfect read

Another way to look at is is to look at award winners. For this you could try googling the Nebula Award winners and pick some that look interesting!

THE CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE trilogy by Brian Staveley.

THE NIGHT'S ASSASSIN trilogy by Brent Weeks.

THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS by Michael J. Sullivan.

THE DEMON CYCLE by Peter V Brett.

These are all great epic fantasy works and I'm a huge space opera fan not fantasy enthusiast.

Tanya wrote: "I’ve just finished reading A Bond of Venom and Magic by Karen Tomlinson.
It’s a bit YA’ish but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kept me hooked til the end and eager for book 2.
Definitely worth a look in..."

Thank you for a recommendation! I will definitely give it a go.

Allison wrote: "I love The Way of Kings. It's a huge book, but if you love epic fantasy with creatures and wars and magic and gods...this is it.

The Malazan books are on my TBR and have a cult foll..."

Hello! Thank you so much! Now I will have a list of fantasy for the whole year :D The Way Of Kings is in my list, but because of not being a huge fan of Mistborn, I had doubts about it. I looooved Deathless - a scary Russian fairy tale. Fantastic. I know that A Wizard of Earthsea is a big thing in English speaking countries, and when I read it I had a regret I haven't read it as a child. Sabriel - done, and liked!

Jen wrote: "Have you read Magician by Raymond E Feist? The whole series is amazing. Also Legend by David gemmell. The Sparhawk series by Eddings. Battle mage by Peter Flannery. Could recommend so many :-)
Good..."

If Magician is Magician: Apprentice - then I very happily added it to my list :D Legend - the cover looks mighty fine, so I will take it! The Diamond Throne - some of my friends hated it, but I will discuss it with them :D Battle Mage seems to be quite lengthy but I am brave! Added. Thank you.

Rachel wrote: "Another way to look at is is to look at award winners. For this you could try googling the Nebula Award winners and pick some that look interesting!"

I am afraid to miss something really good, oldie-goldie maybe, that is really fantastic fantasy, so I turned to people, but I follow awards too :)

MadProfessah wrote: "THE CHRONICLE OF THE UNHEWN THRONE trilogy by Brian Staveley.

THE NIGHT'S ASSASSIN trilogy by Brent Weeks.

THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS by Michael J. Sullivan.

THE DEMON CYCLE by Peter V Brett.

These..."

The Emperor's Blades is on top of my list. I will turn the first page ASP. The Way of Shadows sounds like my kind of jam (ASP too). Ryria books - no way. Somehow we just don't stick together :/ The Warded Man - awaits my attention.
And I am sure you read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - awesome one! (Recommending just in case you somehow missed it).

Sad wrote: "Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping. So, I am looking for some mighty fantasy read -..."

How about Terry Brooks the Sahanara series or R.A Salvatore and the Series Of Drizzt, and then the is Jeff Wheeler's Fountain King series which I'm currently reading.

i wil try Wheel of time I'l take my time as it will take time and time again to go trough all the books

I definitely second A Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels. The Wheel of Time series is good but it does drag on for an awfully long time.

For high fantasy, you cannot do better than Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar trilogy, starting with The Summer Tree. And of course Tolkien :)

Some others you might like:
Kushiel's Dart
Archangel
The Pern books starting with Dragonflight
Unicorns in the Rain
The Last Unicorn
The Once and Future King
Waking the Moon
The Brothers Lionheart
Mythago Wood
Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising and its sequels
The Riddle-Master of Hed (really, anything by this author!)

Mistborn series

Joe Abercrombie is good (no magic for the most part)

A Game of Thrones: The First 5 Books is excellent

The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear are also excellent

John wrote: "Sad wrote: "Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping. So, I am looking for some mighty fa..."


I tried Sahanara TV show - wasn't impressed. Are book better? I have a few doubts about Series Of Drizzt, but I will add it to my list. Also, what is your opinion about The Queen's Poisoner is it very YA? YA fantasy tends to turn romance, and I don't like that :/

Pascal wrote: "i wil try Wheel of time I'l take my time as it will take time and time again to go trough all the books"

Thank you for the recommendation. Read a couple reviews of my friends and they all said it's long :D But I hope it's good - added.

Michele wrote: "I definitely second A Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels. The Wheel of Time series is good but it does drag on for an awfully long time.

For high fantasy, you cannot do better than Gu..."

Hello! Wow, that is a fantastic list! Thank you! I am not sure about Wizard of ... Wasn't a fan of the #1, afraid of the sequels :/ The Summer Tree sound cool as cucumber so yes! (I will tell you a secret, I am fan of Tokien, but not of Lord Of The Ring series - but please, don't throw torches and forks at me! Nobody's perfect.) And yes... I will just add everything you mentioned :D

Edgaras wrote: "Mistborn series"

Read. I think it's fantasy turned romance. And I would have loved it as fantasy. But I decided not to pick up #2.

CBRetriever wrote: "Joe Abercrombie is good (no magic for the most part)

A Game of Thrones: The First 5 Books is excellent

The Name of the Wind and [book:The Wise Man's..."

Joe is in my radar. GOT and Name of The Wind - I really hope that at least my grandgrandgrandgrandgrand-children will by able to enjoy the awesome sequels of these books, since I loved them to the Andromeda and back.

Sad wrote: "John wrote: "Sad wrote: "Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping. So, I am looking for s..."

The books at least don't have John Rhys Davis as an Elf King. He is a tad too big to be any kind of Elf. Makes a good Dwarf though.

Using the comparison the books are better.

Sad wrote: "Michele wrote: "I definitely second A Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels. The Wheel of Time series is good but it does drag on for an awfully long time.

For high fantasy, you cannot d..."


No Forks? So does that mean if I throw a Spork it is a foul?
Just wondering>
The LotR series is less about Battles, a la the movies, and more about journeys and growth. While Jackson did well with the movies he did seem to miss that aspect of the books.

I'd your looking for a great fantasy read pick up ARCADIA by Ian Pear. I've never read a book that was so involving. So interesting and so much fun

Norton wrote: "I'd your looking for a great fantasy read pick up ARCADIA by Ian Pear. I've never read a book that was so involving. So interesting and so much fun"

Ooh yes! Great rec.

Yes! I'm not Arcadia's only advocate now :)

Dj wrote: "Sad wrote: "John wrote: "Sad wrote: "Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping. So, I am l..."

I 100% agree on the Elf King. I don't say that LOTR is not great - it is. But when I read it as a teenager I find it so slooooow and soooo duuuuulll. As I see forks (and sporks) flying, I might consider a re-read.
Nope, spork counts as fork. Mutant, but still fork.

Three points for Arcadia? In! :D

Sad wrote: "Dj wrote: "Sad wrote: "John wrote: "Sad wrote: "Hello! I hope I am in a right place. I have a huge urge to dive into fantasy land, but for sometime I am struggling to find something truly gripping...."

A Mutant Fork, seems like an idea for something.
No LotR is slow and in some places can be quite boring. Most of the slog through Mordor for example. I think that was part of the point though. Adventures aren't all screaming wildly and running for your life. There is a lot of slogging about. And then when it is all over and you want to go home and just put it all behind you, well guess what. Home just ain't the same any more. It is in fact the Hobbit retold on a much grander scale.
It even includes something quite close to the battle of the Five Armies.
But it is not a book for everyone. Of course that can be said about anything. I for one was immensely underwhelmed by Brave New World and was only Whelmed by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. That last was somewhat disappointing to me, since it is such a great title.

Two others you might like:

Kingdoms of Elfin by Sylvia Townsend Warner

Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun" series, starting with The Shadow of the Torturer

I'd recommend the Demon Cycle series by Peter V. Brett. He just released the last one in the series, so it's now complete. The first one is The Warded Man. Also known as The Painted Man.

Some lighter fare is the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne. Hounded is the first one.

I've got his first one "The Warded Man" on my "Want to read list" But wasn't sure about it. It seems like it's fantasy fiction which I love to read. As I never could get into the science fiction stuff.

Arcadia was a great read. 5 stars out of 5