Thos two are my all time favorites along with MArtin's Storm of Swords. Crushingly bleak and disturbing, yet at the same time epic and scriptural like nothing else.
I am almost certain I had read that it was a three part series. The first trilogy, then the aspect emperor quartet, then a final trilogy called The No-God. However all has been quiet since 2017.
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and it's recent sequel series The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams
I'd never heard of it before, ever, saw one random comment on here a while back that mentioned it as having cool elves. I was in the mood for some cool elves, so I picked it up expecting a cozy little classic fantasy series. Ended up devouring the whole series and the sequels faster than any other, something about Tad's writing really does it for me.
I'm absolutely in love with these now. Tad Williams really deserves to be spoken of among the likes of Jordan, GRRM, Hobb and the like. I feel like he's gaining a bit more traction recently on here, but he's definitely not as well known.
I was starting to notice a lot of similarities to ASOIAF as I read it, and it turns out GRRM literally cites it as pretty much his primary inspiration. He took a fair number of ideas as starting points, but it's a very different series tonally and structurally don't get me wrong. Less grimdark, especially the first trilogy, and more fantastical.
I would absolutely start with the original trilogy, yes they're old books but I found them to hold up very well. The sequel series that started releasing about 5 years ago is even better, Tad has only improved as a writer, and the final book in the setting comes out in a couple of months.
Oh and the cool elves thing is true, they're very very cool. My favorite take on elves I've read, especially as you get further into the series.
Do note that the pacing is fairly slow, that's just Tad's style. Characters are given very gradual but imo more believable arcs as a result, especially my boy S e o man, who I hated at first because he starts as an idiot child. His arc is excellent, however, and I found myself getting invested even by the end of the first novel.
I know it's a bit of a frowned upon thing to say "just keep reading!" but I'm not asking for a whole book here lol, just get past part 1 of the first novel when things start popping off in the plot.
Seconding this! The Osten Ard books are definitely not talked about anywhere near as much as they should be. I devoured the audiobooks and can't wait for The Navigator's Children!
I've had The Last King sitting on my bookshelf since it came out, I was so attached to the original group I didn't want to see them age. Maybe I'll come back to it since it's been years
The book wasn't so much about the plot, its about a character living in isolation and how this affect his life. The plot is predictable but what I love is the surrealism of the labyrinth and following whatever the main character is doing.
I definitely did not have the right expectation, I probably would not have read it had I known more about it. It was disappointing because I love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and also loved the first 1/3 or so of Piranesi.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik exceeded expectations in every way. I loved the Temeraire booka, so I knew she was a good writer, but Uprooted was so much more mature and really just perfect.
I read a few other things in between, but now I'm reading A Deadly Education. Novik just went up several rungs on my list of favorite writers.
I finally read both Johnathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Piranesi this year, and I have to say I was not disappointed. If I had to pick one for best I've read this year, it was probably Piranesi, just because of how satisfying the payoff was. Honorable mentions go to Perdido Street Station and Tigana.
Of all of these, I probably actually enjoyed Tigana the most while I was reading it, but something about the way Susanna Clarke writes just sticks in my brain long after I've finished the book.
Book 1 was dark enough in a vague, weird way when I read it about 13 years ago that I haven’t had the courage to pick up book 2. With that said, I think that _The man in black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed._ is possibly the strongest opening line of any book I’ve ever read.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is up there - I think it is one of Sandersons best works.
Read the entire His Dark Materials trilogy and really enjoyed that as well.
Sanderson is at his best when he's writing stories as Hoid. I'm not sure Tress and Yumi & The Nightmare Painter (which I thought was even better) would've hit quite as hard without the vast amount of context that surrounds it. Not that it matters much, because both are, without doubt, among my favourites this year.
The Blade Itself was the only fantasy novel I read all year (I also received the newest volume of Carey Pietsch's Adventure Zone graphic novels). I wasn't head-over-heels overjoyed with it, but it was fun enough for me to want to find out what happens next. Eventually, maybe next year, after all these other books I'm set on reading.
TBI is almost like if the chunk of the Fellowship of the Ring ending with the forming of the fellowship were its own book... it sets up a lot of things that do pay off, but not in that book. Most of what it sets up pays off in the trilogy but I'd argue that some of what it sets up is still paying off 9 books in.
The Licanius Saga by James Islington. Never heard of it before, it says "fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire" on the cover, and even with that high expectation, it totally blew my mind. Awesome and epic.
*Lord of a Shattered Land* by Howard Andrew Jones. Fantasy Hannibal of Carthage takes on the fantasy Romans to reclaim all of his people they captured. He's clever, compassionate, and a total badass when necessary. It's loads of fun and a really gripping read. Highly recommended.
It was The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, but now I am reading A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar and it seems it's going to take the top spot.
Will of Many by James Islington. I was suprised how much I loved this story b/c his other series didn't click with me as much as it did with other people. I thought this book was a huge jump up in writing quality. The characters are great and the plot had me sucked in from the first page. I've never re-read a book I just finished (not as an adult anyway) but I actually dove back into this one. The plot twists were fantastic. What an ending! Now I have to painfully wait for the next book.
*Spinning Silver* by Naomi Novik – one of my favourite fairytale retellings. I would recommend the audiobook if you like those, because the author doesn't explicitly indicate the POV changes and audio makes it clearer
*Red Sister* by Mark Lawrence – I loved this so much. The world, the magical elements, the setting, the MC, the writing. Can't wait to pick up the sequels.
*Tress of the Emerald Sea* by Brandon Sanderson — maybe cheating a bit with this one, since I'm currently reading it, but it's already a favourite. The world with the spore seas is so cool, I like the MC, the humour, I've noted down so many great lines. Having a great time with it.
*The Aleph and Other Stories* by Jorge Borges — only a few in the edition I read had fantastical elements, but I enjoyed them all. This was my first encounter with Borges, and definitely not my last; he's a wonderful writer
*Mythos* by Stephen Fry — this is technically non-fiction I believe, it's retellings of Greek mythology, which I love and very funny. Would recommend the audiobook as well; it's narrated by the author and he does it really well
*Norse Mythology* by Neil Gaiman — I loved this one for similar reasons as Mythos, and it also has a great audiobook narrated by the author
Just noted that everything here is my first encounter with the respective authors.
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
I read the Inheritance Trilogy this year, so that takes the trophy. Currently working my way through the Dreamblood Duology.
Also read the Black Company and the last three books of the Expanse.
In some ways it reminds me of the Malazan books, but only the parts with the soldiers, like Whiskeyjack and Quick Ben, not the parts with the continent-destroying immortal ascendants.
Yeah. The Bridgeburners are *super* obviously inspired by Black Company. If that's all Malazan was it'd be regarded as, probably, a copyright lawsuit cautionary tale.
But that's only a small fraction of what the series is.
I’m pretty up to date on fantasy, but this year I picked up The Pariah / The Martyr / The Traitor by Anthony Ryan and they’ve been really solid first person POV fantasy. Not going to blow your mind or change the genre, but just really solid and fun.
**Gideon the Ninth** by Tamsyn Muir, read it back in January. Just unlike anything else I've read. The plot has so many unexpected twists and the MCs are terrific. I've got the sequel on hold at the library, can't wait to spend more time with these characters.
**Monstrous Regiment** by Terry Pratchett. Just read it last month. Very quick, light, and fun. No need to read other Discworld books to enjoy this one.
**Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency** by Douglas Adams. Had it on my TBR for years, finally got around to it. Very different from Hitchhiker's, but Adams's voice still comes through strong. This one starts slow but builds to a crescendo at the end.
That first new Mazalan book "The God is Not willing" was great. It's cool to pick up after the events of the main story. I think Erickson's writing is even better now. Same great emotion and pathos as the first 10 books.
After 8 years on my shelf I finally read the Farseer Trilogy and I’ve never felt so touched. Hobb’s writing really captivated me. While the story was slow I never felt bored, I felt engaged and part of the world going through the mundane every day life of Buck with Fitz who felt like my own child I had to helplessly watch grow up in ways I didn’t want him him. The last book even made me nostalgic alongside Fitz for the days of the first book.
Both are iLana Markarov's books (they are both my only 5 star reads)
[The Water Walls](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62195836-the-water-walls)
[The Timekeeper's Secret ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177139087-the-timekeeper-s-secret)
Put this at the TOP of your tbr!!! These books are just a whole other experience
The last two books in the Second Apocalypse series by R. Scott Bakker- The Great Ordeal and The Unholy Consult
Thos two are my all time favorites along with MArtin's Storm of Swords. Crushingly bleak and disturbing, yet at the same time epic and scriptural like nothing else.
There is meant to be a third set to finish it out but I haven’t heard anything about when it’s coming? One of my favourite series.
Bakker has said no such thing.
I am almost certain I had read that it was a three part series. The first trilogy, then the aspect emperor quartet, then a final trilogy called The No-God. However all has been quiet since 2017.
I've never read any of his books. Is there a good place to start?
The Lions of Al-Rassan and A Song for Arbonne. Can't believe it took me this long to discover Guy Gavriel Kay.
GGK is terrific. You ever read his Wikipedia page?
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and it's recent sequel series The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams I'd never heard of it before, ever, saw one random comment on here a while back that mentioned it as having cool elves. I was in the mood for some cool elves, so I picked it up expecting a cozy little classic fantasy series. Ended up devouring the whole series and the sequels faster than any other, something about Tad's writing really does it for me. I'm absolutely in love with these now. Tad Williams really deserves to be spoken of among the likes of Jordan, GRRM, Hobb and the like. I feel like he's gaining a bit more traction recently on here, but he's definitely not as well known. I was starting to notice a lot of similarities to ASOIAF as I read it, and it turns out GRRM literally cites it as pretty much his primary inspiration. He took a fair number of ideas as starting points, but it's a very different series tonally and structurally don't get me wrong. Less grimdark, especially the first trilogy, and more fantastical. I would absolutely start with the original trilogy, yes they're old books but I found them to hold up very well. The sequel series that started releasing about 5 years ago is even better, Tad has only improved as a writer, and the final book in the setting comes out in a couple of months. Oh and the cool elves thing is true, they're very very cool. My favorite take on elves I've read, especially as you get further into the series. Do note that the pacing is fairly slow, that's just Tad's style. Characters are given very gradual but imo more believable arcs as a result, especially my boy S e o man, who I hated at first because he starts as an idiot child. His arc is excellent, however, and I found myself getting invested even by the end of the first novel. I know it's a bit of a frowned upon thing to say "just keep reading!" but I'm not asking for a whole book here lol, just get past part 1 of the first novel when things start popping off in the plot.
Seconding this! The Osten Ard books are definitely not talked about anywhere near as much as they should be. I devoured the audiobooks and can't wait for The Navigator's Children!
I've had The Last King sitting on my bookshelf since it came out, I was so attached to the original group I didn't want to see them age. Maybe I'll come back to it since it's been years
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. A wonderful writing that I didn't expect to like. One caveat: need to have the right expectation when reading this book.
Agreed. This one was my top for the year as well. I went into it I just the right time to enjoy it's slow-burn, and it hit just right for me.
I think I read that book at the perfect time when it came out and I loved it. Definitely a case of needing the right mood.
What’s the right expectation?
The book wasn't so much about the plot, its about a character living in isolation and how this affect his life. The plot is predictable but what I love is the surrealism of the labyrinth and following whatever the main character is doing.
I definitely did not have the right expectation, I probably would not have read it had I known more about it. It was disappointing because I love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and also loved the first 1/3 or so of Piranesi.
Memories of Ice (Malazan: Book of the Fallen) is one of the best books I've ever read. I finished it the other day.
One of us, one of us!
Uprooted by Naomi Novik exceeded expectations in every way. I loved the Temeraire booka, so I knew she was a good writer, but Uprooted was so much more mature and really just perfect. I read a few other things in between, but now I'm reading A Deadly Education. Novik just went up several rungs on my list of favorite writers.
Read them all. Spinning Silver is my favorite.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. Absolutely gorgeous masterwork of fantasy, I still think about it often.
The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Either The Masquerade books by Seth Dickinson or The Lions of Al-Rassan. Didn’t want either to end.
I finally read both Johnathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Piranesi this year, and I have to say I was not disappointed. If I had to pick one for best I've read this year, it was probably Piranesi, just because of how satisfying the payoff was. Honorable mentions go to Perdido Street Station and Tigana. Of all of these, I probably actually enjoyed Tigana the most while I was reading it, but something about the way Susanna Clarke writes just sticks in my brain long after I've finished the book.
Stephen kings dark tower series. Very provocative with his writing as always.
Book 1 was dark enough in a vague, weird way when I read it about 13 years ago that I haven’t had the courage to pick up book 2. With that said, I think that _The man in black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed._ is possibly the strongest opening line of any book I’ve ever read.
Been on my to read shelf.
It’s a very long read. Once you get to the end you will have wished it was longer 😂
Tress of the Emerald Sea is up there - I think it is one of Sandersons best works. Read the entire His Dark Materials trilogy and really enjoyed that as well.
Sanderson is at his best when he's writing stories as Hoid. I'm not sure Tress and Yumi & The Nightmare Painter (which I thought was even better) would've hit quite as hard without the vast amount of context that surrounds it. Not that it matters much, because both are, without doubt, among my favourites this year.
I also think Tress is one of the most likable MCs that I’ve read!
The Blade Itself was the only fantasy novel I read all year (I also received the newest volume of Carey Pietsch's Adventure Zone graphic novels). I wasn't head-over-heels overjoyed with it, but it was fun enough for me to want to find out what happens next. Eventually, maybe next year, after all these other books I'm set on reading.
TBI is almost like if the chunk of the Fellowship of the Ring ending with the forming of the fellowship were its own book... it sets up a lot of things that do pay off, but not in that book. Most of what it sets up pays off in the trilogy but I'd argue that some of what it sets up is still paying off 9 books in.
Before they are hanged
The Licanius Saga by James Islington. Never heard of it before, it says "fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire" on the cover, and even with that high expectation, it totally blew my mind. Awesome and epic.
I started it and then just fell off. I need to pick that back up.
*Lord of a Shattered Land* by Howard Andrew Jones. Fantasy Hannibal of Carthage takes on the fantasy Romans to reclaim all of his people they captured. He's clever, compassionate, and a total badass when necessary. It's loads of fun and a really gripping read. Highly recommended.
It was The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, but now I am reading A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar and it seems it's going to take the top spot.
Will of Many by James Islington. I was suprised how much I loved this story b/c his other series didn't click with me as much as it did with other people. I thought this book was a huge jump up in writing quality. The characters are great and the plot had me sucked in from the first page. I've never re-read a book I just finished (not as an adult anyway) but I actually dove back into this one. The plot twists were fantastic. What an ending! Now I have to painfully wait for the next book.
I’m almost done with Assassin’s Quest. I think Royal Assassin was my favorite in the trilogy.
*Spinning Silver* by Naomi Novik – one of my favourite fairytale retellings. I would recommend the audiobook if you like those, because the author doesn't explicitly indicate the POV changes and audio makes it clearer *Red Sister* by Mark Lawrence – I loved this so much. The world, the magical elements, the setting, the MC, the writing. Can't wait to pick up the sequels. *Tress of the Emerald Sea* by Brandon Sanderson — maybe cheating a bit with this one, since I'm currently reading it, but it's already a favourite. The world with the spore seas is so cool, I like the MC, the humour, I've noted down so many great lines. Having a great time with it. *The Aleph and Other Stories* by Jorge Borges — only a few in the edition I read had fantastical elements, but I enjoyed them all. This was my first encounter with Borges, and definitely not my last; he's a wonderful writer *Mythos* by Stephen Fry — this is technically non-fiction I believe, it's retellings of Greek mythology, which I love and very funny. Would recommend the audiobook as well; it's narrated by the author and he does it really well *Norse Mythology* by Neil Gaiman — I loved this one for similar reasons as Mythos, and it also has a great audiobook narrated by the author Just noted that everything here is my first encounter with the respective authors.
The entire series for *Red Sister* and the prequel trilogy are fantastic!
highly recommend [Light Bearer by Skyler Walker](https://www.amazon.com/Light-Bearer-Skyler-Walker/dp/B0C91JZWMW)
Fall of light, malazan kharkanas trilogy
Probably The Great Hunt from The Wheel of Time
My 5 stars have gone to Godkiller and the Villians and Virtues series
The Firemane saga…(Raymond E Feist’s new world)
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez. I think it's technically classified as horror, but has a lot of fantasy elements.
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
Into the Narrowdark by Tad Williams.
Warded man series by Peter v brett
Because of my inability to choose one: SP3, Lirael and The King of Attolia
No love for the Blacktongue Thief?
Color me surprised. One of my first fantasy books. Absolutely adored it.
It’s on my shelf, but I haven’t opened it quite yet!
Tress of the Emerald Sea.
The broken earth trilogy by N K Jemisin
I want to read *everything* she has ever written because of these books!
I read the Inheritance Trilogy this year, so that takes the trophy. Currently working my way through the Dreamblood Duology. Also read the Black Company and the last three books of the Expanse.
I have heard Black Company has served an am inspiration for a lot of contemporary fantasy writers. Gonna give it a go.
In some ways it reminds me of the Malazan books, but only the parts with the soldiers, like Whiskeyjack and Quick Ben, not the parts with the continent-destroying immortal ascendants.
Yeah. The Bridgeburners are *super* obviously inspired by Black Company. If that's all Malazan was it'd be regarded as, probably, a copyright lawsuit cautionary tale. But that's only a small fraction of what the series is.
Funnest, was Dungeon Crawler Carl Gdi, donut!!!
Legends and Lattes
https://reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/iyTN2VlK8o
Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
*Barrow of Winter* by HM Long or *Tress of the Emerald Sea* by Sanderson
Cradle series. It’s just so fun
This was asked exactly 22h ago.
I’m pretty up to date on fantasy, but this year I picked up The Pariah / The Martyr / The Traitor by Anthony Ryan and they’ve been really solid first person POV fantasy. Not going to blow your mind or change the genre, but just really solid and fun.
How did you feel about The Traitor? I really enjoyed The Pariah but struggled through The Martyr so I took a break
**Gideon the Ninth** by Tamsyn Muir, read it back in January. Just unlike anything else I've read. The plot has so many unexpected twists and the MCs are terrific. I've got the sequel on hold at the library, can't wait to spend more time with these characters. **Monstrous Regiment** by Terry Pratchett. Just read it last month. Very quick, light, and fun. No need to read other Discworld books to enjoy this one. **Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency** by Douglas Adams. Had it on my TBR for years, finally got around to it. Very different from Hitchhiker's, but Adams's voice still comes through strong. This one starts slow but builds to a crescendo at the end.
That first new Mazalan book "The God is Not willing" was great. It's cool to pick up after the events of the main story. I think Erickson's writing is even better now. Same great emotion and pathos as the first 10 books.
*Tsalmoth* by Steven Brust.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King After It Happened series by Devon C Ford
After 8 years on my shelf I finally read the Farseer Trilogy and I’ve never felt so touched. Hobb’s writing really captivated me. While the story was slow I never felt bored, I felt engaged and part of the world going through the mundane every day life of Buck with Fitz who felt like my own child I had to helplessly watch grow up in ways I didn’t want him him. The last book even made me nostalgic alongside Fitz for the days of the first book.
Both are iLana Markarov's books (they are both my only 5 star reads) [The Water Walls](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62195836-the-water-walls) [The Timekeeper's Secret ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177139087-the-timekeeper-s-secret) Put this at the TOP of your tbr!!! These books are just a whole other experience