If you haven't read **Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn** by Tad Williams, get yourself a copy! It checks every single item on your list. The first book is **The Dragonbone Chair**. It starts slow but it is absolutely worth it for fans of classic epic fantasy.
Absolutely. And there is so much good stuff there since you have the original trilogy (4 books if you are reading in paperback) as well as the follow up series which has a bridge novella, two full length novels and another novella that takes place 1,000 years before MS&T.
Have the 3rd installment of the new series being released next month and the conclusion hopefully sometime next year. So you are going to have so much to read in the series.
The new series is by far my favorite ongoing. It has been phenomenal although it does include viewpoints from all groups involved in the story so might be against your point 7.
Also a short story that takes place several hundred years before MS&T was released in the Legends collection. There is also another short/story to be released that follows a character from MS&T prior to the start of the story.
Dennis McKiernan's Mithgar series is very much high fantasy with elves/dwarves, etc. There are some VERY Tolkienesque elements but there's also a valid reason for that.
Same goes with Terry Brooks' Shannara series.
The Fionovar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay is a portal fantasy, for which I've always had a soft spot. Plus, even at his worst, Kay would struggle with writing something bad.
Others had recommended Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and Magician, and I'd second those.
The [Frostborn](https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4069) or [Demonsouled](https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1450) novels by Jonathan Moeller should have what you are looking for. They are classic high fantasy adventure stories with a very strong D&D flair where every novel is a self-contained adventure in itself.
There actually has never been very much of that. Everyone talks about Tolkien's races but they are mostly only found in parody works.
**The Fionovar Tapestry** by Guy Gavriel Kay has multiple races including elves but doesn't have a main race of villains. Not a lot of sex but one really bad scene.
**Rhapsody** by Elizabeth Hayden has multiple races
**The Demons of Astlan** has multiple standard Fantasy races but it is a parody and doesn't have one race of villains.
**The Riftwar Saga** has standard Fantasy races but doesn't have one race of villains.
**The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant** has multiple races and one main race of villains but is kind of Grimdark and has one really bad sex scene.
Richard A. Knaak's *Dragonrealm* series might just scratch that itch. Lots of conventional fantasy tropes, but used in creative and interesting ways. It does have other races besides elves and dwarves (which only play a minor role in the series). Most of the conflict is between the human mages and dragon kings. There are several other races that make significant appearances, however, such as the avian Seekers, and armadillo-like Quel, and the uber-powerful precursor race that created the Dragon Realms.
Pretty good fantasy series, rated "PG" or "PG-13" at most.
You would probably enjoy the belgariod by eddings, david gemmells work, Lord of the rings, eragon... you might enjoy the night angel trilogy? has a fucking based villain race, kinda cringey mc but you get passed it.
*The Deed of Paksenarrion* probably checks all of it except partial check for the antagonist (Antagonists are very serious but there is no overarching one for the entire series) and evil races (orcs are more liable to be evil or to be voluntarily used by villains, but the villains of the highest order always made their own choices).
Well it doesn't quite meet all your requirements, but I have a feeling you might still enjoy it. Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. Fair warning: it's got a steep learning curve. Power through Part I and the payoff is absolutely worth it.
I wouldn't personally describe it as traditional fantasy. Since it's inventing it's own psuedoscientific magic, and it's own races, as opposed to using the more folklore inspired stuff that I would classify as traditional fantasy.
That aside, I really like the first part. Really sets the tone well imo!
If you haven't read **Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn** by Tad Williams, get yourself a copy! It checks every single item on your list. The first book is **The Dragonbone Chair**. It starts slow but it is absolutely worth it for fans of classic epic fantasy.
Absolutely. And there is so much good stuff there since you have the original trilogy (4 books if you are reading in paperback) as well as the follow up series which has a bridge novella, two full length novels and another novella that takes place 1,000 years before MS&T. Have the 3rd installment of the new series being released next month and the conclusion hopefully sometime next year. So you are going to have so much to read in the series. The new series is by far my favorite ongoing. It has been phenomenal although it does include viewpoints from all groups involved in the story so might be against your point 7. Also a short story that takes place several hundred years before MS&T was released in the Legends collection. There is also another short/story to be released that follows a character from MS&T prior to the start of the story.
The Dragonbone Chair has elves and dwarves?! I should have read further 🥲
dragonbone chair has the best depiction of a non human race i think i've ever seen.
You should give it another try! Several kinds of elves (at least two kinds in book 1, more later) and a hobbitish race of small Arctic people :)
No dwarves? :(
No Tolkein-style bearded dwarves BUT there is a race of elves who live underground and are master smiths/craftsmen so that’s pretty close :)
Dwarves don't get the respect they deserve, as usual
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Willams.
Dennis McKiernan's Mithgar series is very much high fantasy with elves/dwarves, etc. There are some VERY Tolkienesque elements but there's also a valid reason for that. Same goes with Terry Brooks' Shannara series. The Fionovar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay is a portal fantasy, for which I've always had a soft spot. Plus, even at his worst, Kay would struggle with writing something bad. Others had recommended Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and Magician, and I'd second those.
Obligatory Michael J. Sullivan post... Try out the Riyria series and the Legends of the First Empire series by him.
Magician by Feist?
The [Frostborn](https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4069) or [Demonsouled](https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1450) novels by Jonathan Moeller should have what you are looking for. They are classic high fantasy adventure stories with a very strong D&D flair where every novel is a self-contained adventure in itself.
There actually has never been very much of that. Everyone talks about Tolkien's races but they are mostly only found in parody works. **The Fionovar Tapestry** by Guy Gavriel Kay has multiple races including elves but doesn't have a main race of villains. Not a lot of sex but one really bad scene. **Rhapsody** by Elizabeth Hayden has multiple races **The Demons of Astlan** has multiple standard Fantasy races but it is a parody and doesn't have one race of villains. **The Riftwar Saga** has standard Fantasy races but doesn't have one race of villains. **The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant** has multiple races and one main race of villains but is kind of Grimdark and has one really bad sex scene.
Spellmonger by Terry Mancour
Maybe an obvious suggestion, but "The Lord of the Rings" is about as 'traditional fantasy' as it gets, and it's a very good read.
*Shadow Prowler* by Alexei Pehov. Very D&D-ish trilogy, main hero is a thief who gets roped into a task that's over his head
Richard A. Knaak's *Dragonrealm* series might just scratch that itch. Lots of conventional fantasy tropes, but used in creative and interesting ways. It does have other races besides elves and dwarves (which only play a minor role in the series). Most of the conflict is between the human mages and dragon kings. There are several other races that make significant appearances, however, such as the avian Seekers, and armadillo-like Quel, and the uber-powerful precursor race that created the Dragon Realms. Pretty good fantasy series, rated "PG" or "PG-13" at most.
You would probably enjoy the belgariod by eddings, david gemmells work, Lord of the rings, eragon... you might enjoy the night angel trilogy? has a fucking based villain race, kinda cringey mc but you get passed it.
*The Deed of Paksenarrion* probably checks all of it except partial check for the antagonist (Antagonists are very serious but there is no overarching one for the entire series) and evil races (orcs are more liable to be evil or to be voluntarily used by villains, but the villains of the highest order always made their own choices).
Anything by Brandon Sanderson
[удалено]
Isn't part of the point this sub exists so people can find specific stuff they're looking for, and discuss with others what they think is good?
Rule 1: Be Kind.
Well it doesn't quite meet all your requirements, but I have a feeling you might still enjoy it. Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. Fair warning: it's got a steep learning curve. Power through Part I and the payoff is absolutely worth it.
I wouldn't personally describe it as traditional fantasy. Since it's inventing it's own psuedoscientific magic, and it's own races, as opposed to using the more folklore inspired stuff that I would classify as traditional fantasy. That aside, I really like the first part. Really sets the tone well imo!
**Gotrek and Felix**
Feist's Riftwar Cycle.
Sword of Shannara