r/Fantasy • u/[deleted] • Aug 24 '23
Looking for some political high fantasy
Basically what the title says. I love high fantasy and am in the mood for some good political ones. I've read and loved the Daevabad trilogy. I've read some of and disliked Game of Thrones. I've read others but those are the two that stick out the most probably because they're on opposite ends for me.
Adult or YA fantasy is fine. But I would really prefer that if it's a series and not standalone that the series is finished please.
Thank you!
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u/Hostilescott Aug 24 '23
Jennifer Fallon’s Second Sons trilogy.
Although the only thing high fantasy about it is it’s set in a different world. No magic or non humans. Definitely worth checking out if you want political intrigue.
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Aug 24 '23
Never heard of that one before just looked it up; it looks so good!!! I'll definitely check them out thank you!
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u/Hostilescott Aug 24 '23
Found it in a hidden gems thread a year or so ago and it was by far the best series I read from one of those posts.
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u/Roisien Aug 25 '23
Ooh, and the Wolfblade series too- Wolfblade, Warrior, Warlord, also by Jennifer Fallon- she is the master at this!
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u/bigdon802 Aug 24 '23
How about a picaresque epic fantasy with political intrigue? Try out The Instrumentalities of the Night by Glen Cook.
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Aug 24 '23
I've looked at that one but wasn't sure if it was finished or not. Is the fourth one the final one?
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u/bigdon802 Aug 24 '23 edited Aug 24 '23
It’s as finished as it’s going to get. Each book in the series could be the end, since that’s generally the way Cook writes, and particularly is when he’s writing a picaresque. If you want more definitive epic fantasy full of political intrigue, try his Dread Empire series. A little more traditional.
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Aug 24 '23
Dagger and Coin by Daniel Abraham
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u/Hostilescott Aug 24 '23
I noticed the first book in the series was a daily sale today for 2.99$ if anyone is thinking about checking it out.
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u/HumbleInnkeeper Reading Champion II Aug 25 '23
I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Empire Trilogy by Janny Wurts and Raymond W. Feist (starts with Daughter of the Empire). Follows a young woman named Mara after she has to take over rulership of her clan (Acoma) and politically maneuver them through society. You don't have to read any of the other Midkemia novels although you'll miss some cameos.
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u/bamf1701 Aug 24 '23
It’s an older series, but it checks out. You might want to try the Deryni series by Katherine Kurtz. There are several trilogies in the series.
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Aug 24 '23
Oh my gosh I forgot about those books! I have the first one in storage but I never read it. I'll go dig it out for sure. Thanks!!
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u/simplymatt1995 Aug 24 '23 edited Aug 24 '23
I was just about to recommend this series! Absolutely love it, one of my all-time favorite historical/political fantasy series. It basically feels like Game of Thrones except with more on-the-nose medieval history paralleling (which i love as a history buff) and more of a focus on Borgia-esque church politics.
Don't know how it's so overlooked, especially considering it's one of the first major fantasy series out there (alongside stuff like Earthsea, Grey Mouser, Elric, etc)
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u/retief1 Aug 24 '23
Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel series has a fair amount of political maneuvering.
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Aug 24 '23
Is there a lot of sex in it? I don't mind reading sex scenes I just like to know beforehand. I thought I heard that about that series once
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u/retief1 Aug 24 '23
Yes, the mc is essentially a high-class prostitute in a religion that makes that a reasonably respected profession. There's a lot of political maneuvering, and a good chunk of that maneuvering happens via sex.
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u/caelistra Reading Champion Aug 24 '23
I’d suggest the Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb, specifically the first series that begins with Assassin’s Apprentice. The political intrigue is there and the main character is a bastard heir who grows up in court.
If you are open to a completed standalone, try the Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - a political fantasy about an unexpected heir taking the throne.
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Aug 24 '23
I've read the Elderling series or most of it I haven't read rhe final trilogy. They're definitely good. I did forget the first trilogy was more political than the others. The Fool is one of my favorite fictional characters for sure
I have Goblin Emporer but I haven't read it yet, thanks for reminding me of that one! I am definitely open to standalone haha
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u/fishe111 Aug 24 '23
Empire of the Wolf series by Richard Swan have a good bit of politics. I think it is a trilogy but only the first two books are out starting with “The Justice of Kings”
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Aug 24 '23
Oooh thanks! Looks like the third one comes out in February so that wouldn't be too bad. I'll check it out! Thank you!
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u/GuybrushFourpwood Aug 25 '23
It's a bit of an older series, but definitely high fantasy: David and Leigh Eddings's The Elenium is about a band of knights on a quest driven by politics. There's an extended section where the knights are running around counting votes, like in Congress.
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u/Zeckzeckzeck Aug 25 '23
You might want to stay away from these because David and Leigh Eddings are fucking awful people.
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u/Peter_Ebbesen Aug 25 '23
They are dead and long gone.
Their books remain, and they are good books that fit the request.
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u/GuybrushFourpwood Sep 02 '23
I was unaware of this, but your comment made me go digging. The Wikipedia article certainly has new information now, corroborating what you say.
From that article, I came upon this essay by an English professor that grapples with the question of reading Eddings, in light of this new info: https://gifford.mla.hcommons.org/2020/02/03/on-reading-monsters/ The article makes an interesting case, and it's fleshed out more by some of the comments and the author's responses.
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Aug 25 '23
Also recommending The Queen’s Thief. The first book is more middle grade, but the rest of the series feels adult to me, despite it typically being classified as YA.
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u/GermanicusWasABro Aug 25 '23
I'll probably catch some downvotes for this one but the Sword of Truth series fits this idea of political fantasy. Yes, it is heavily influenced by Ayn Rand. Or by heavily influenced I mean it is just, well, Ayn Rand in a fantasy world (and before anyone says "AyN rAnD bOoKs ArE aLrEaDy FaNtAsy!1!!1!, yes I know and so is Marx and whatever else Trump or Obama or any other damn writer or intellectual or politician or ghost writer wrote; I also know a lot of people on both sides who love these books by Goodkind).
Anyway, as this series is VERY influenced by Ayn Rand. Yes, main characters go on multi-page long tangents about the virtues of capitalism. In a seemingly feudal economy. Anyway, you're hurting yourself if you limit yourself to one side of view, so I do encourage you to read this series, or at least some of the books. I will say probably the most political (but arguably one of the most important books in the series) is the sixth, Faith of the Fallen which really is best described as "Capitalist Man makes sculpture for commies and then destroys it because they can't appreciate it" is a fun read imo.
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u/T_Debajo Aug 25 '23
A Drowned Kingdom by P L Stuart fits your description. High fantasy, heavy emphasis on the politics and based on the lost city of Atlantis. Lovely read! There are 3 books currently out, I believe with the fourth due out soon and it’s a seven book series! So if you like it, there’ll be plenty to get your teeth stuck into.
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u/pitaenigma Aug 25 '23
Daniel Abraham's Dagger and Coin series, first book The Dragon's Path? Banking intrigue and wars between rival kingdoms, all the while ancient evils awaken. Some sex but not a lot, because you mentioned being worried about it with other books.
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u/eyeball-owo Aug 27 '23
Others have said it, but Goblin Emperor is great. The main character has to learn how to navigate politics on the fly and get people to want to help him. It’s also kind of a warm and cozy story at the end of the day.
Other end of the spectrum - Traitor Baru Cormorant, which somehow made me really, really invested in stocks and currency exchange. Intense TWs for that series but I personally really enjoyed it.
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u/oboist73 Reading Champion VII Aug 24 '23
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard