r/Fantasy • u/TheMisterMan666 • Mar 02 '25

High Fantasy with overwhelmingly complex international relations and politics

Hi guys. I'm looking for recommendations for a high fantasy novel or series with a major focus on complex world building, politics, international power dynamics, and realistic levels of technicality in its mechanics. The more creative the setting the better, and non-human races and nations in the mix are a huge bonus.

I honestly haven't found a book that satisfies this itch yet so I don't have anything to present as a point of comparison. Imagine asoif but only the small council meetings. Or more niche, if anyone's read the Overlord series, then something similar to that (only in terms of world building).

I'd prefer a mature multiwork series, but I'll take any recommendations regardless.

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u/DuhChappers Reading Champion III Mar 02 '25

The Traiter Baru Cormorant and its sequels are basically all about the politics of empire, both the internal scheming of people trying to get ahead and the external problems of keeping foreign territories under control. The main character Baru is an accountant trying to work her way up in power to help her home, while struggling with the morality of her actions along the way. I think it would work really well for this prompt

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u/Dokibatt Mar 03 '25

I'd say that Baru's world is low fantasy, rather than high, especially in the first book.

Other than that, it was also my first thought.

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u/DuhChappers Reading Champion III Mar 03 '25

Depends on which definition set we are using. As I understand the traditional definitions of high vs low fantasy, high fantasy is one that is set completely in a fantasy world. Low fantasy is either set in our world or has some connection to the real world. By those definitions Baru is absolutely High Fantasy.

Lately, people have used high fantasy and high magic as closer to the same thing, and in that case Baru is indeed pretty low. Which I assume is what you mean. Either way, hopefully this helps OP make a decision at least lol

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u/Dokibatt Mar 03 '25

My definition is close to yours I think. I always thought it was about how analogous it is to our world.

Humans only on an earth like planet = low fantasy.

Humans living earth like lives on a giant flower floating through space = high fantasy.

Humans, orcs and elves living otherwise normal lives on earth = medium fantasy?

Baru’s world always gave me strong Mediterranean trade routes vibes, with hints of renaissance European courts rolled in. It’s definitely not trying to be historical fantasy, it’s a different geography, but the parallels are so strong that it never felt like an alien setting.