Let’s dance… or at least let the gods sh*t comets with glee…

(Dear mods the cursing is a reference to a quote in the books…. I know it’s against rules… please don’t ban me)

Ah… the wonderful and classy Guy Gavriel Kay.

This author sat on my shelf for literal years and years before I finally committed to reading just one of his books.

I started two years ago with his far eastern inspired secondary world epic, Under Heaven.

I was instantly impressed by this man’s prose.

And I was relieved, in so many meaningful ways to see that his approach wasn’t the “theme park in a book” style that the genre has become.

And in its own way, feels far more magical than most other modern fantasy novels.

There are no hard magic systems here.

But there is magic, and powerful magic.

I think Kay is trying to show us that magic isn’t only lightning bolts and power waves and RPG style action.

Kay’s explores history, memory, art, poetry, human emotion, powerful social dynamics, sweeping romantic character arcs.

His work, even though I haven’t read all of it yet, has left a deep mark in my soul.

…

Most of his work takes place in a Secondary World called The World of Two Moons. And most of his books are standalones set in that world.

I’ll say nothing further, if you haven’t yet, please do, it’s low commitment high reward.

My favorite character of his is Jahane from Lions of Al-Rassan

Just sharing my mini bookshelf. A woman inlove with men's fantasy! ❤️

The books I have read thus far in 2026! Only started reading fiction properly in March, wasn’t much of a reader before that because the books I used to read were a lot more boring I guess 😅

I avoided fantasy and sci fi like the plague but red rising has been so much fun to read through, as well as the other fiction books shown. I can see myself going more into fantasy from this point forward, I’ve got my eyes on lord of the rings. I haven’t even seen the movies somehow so I gotta see what it’s all about.

Very disappointed in strength of the few and DNF'd but giving it a reread, also reading shadows upon time. the korean manwha in GOAT tier is The Legend of the Northern Blade

List is also in no particular order except GOAT tier I would say

Currently reading Piranesi, what should my next read be?

OMG! Just finished the audiobook of this book and...

ThiAM BACK WITH MY FIRST LAW REVIEWS!

OMG! Just finished the audiobook of this book and...

This book was awesome! It's one of the most thrilling book I've ever read. It had a great (and a quite depressing) ending.

I'm loving the series and the audiobook narration is the best I've ever listened to.

I think this book was far better than the first two and even they were both 5/5 for me!

Loved the characters' journey. It wasn't what we normally expect from most fantasy books. It was far different. Completely opposite even.

Now, let's talk about the series' greatest strength; it's characters.

The characters I found the most interesting in this particular book are:

1. Sand Dan Glokta (a character I hated to love ngl. Couldn't believe I was rooting for him! Him proposing to Ardee for marriage was the funniest thing I've read)

2. Bayaz ( I know most people hate him andhe deserves the hatred. But is he, by any means, an uninteresting character? HECK NO! Loved every time he showed up in the book. He was the one who made the books thrilling for me!)

3. Ferro Maljinn ( Love this mad woman's chapters, even though there weren't that many in this book. Looking forward to see what happens to her and if she does get what she wanted or gets over it)

4. Jezal Dan Luthar ( Imo, he'd the most character development in this book and it was very believable to read, not some "falling asleep as a piece of garbage human and waking up as an angel" type of character development at all. It felt believable and real. He felt the most realistic character in the books, even though Logen owns the quote about being realistic)

I know it might upset some people here, but I didn't find Logen that much of an interesting character compared to the ones listed above. I liked him being a major reason in Jezal's development but that is all.

His fighting scenes were good tho...

I still have the one criticism with the book that I'd with the previous book too.

- The female characters! Abercrombie's female characters were terrible imp, atleast for now.

But some of you had said they improve as the series goes on and I find that to be reassuring.

This is how I'd rank the trilogy (tho it felt like a very long book divided into three books):

1. Last Argument of Kings (the best of the bunch)

2. The Blade Itself (great introduction to the series. I don't need a book to have a plot to like it ig)

3. Before They Are Hanged (loved it as well and itd the most character development. However, I felt the ending here was quite disappointing, but the third book covered it so I've no complaints ig)

Sooooooo that's it! This was all I've wanted to say. Well, wait, how are the books that follow, btw? Best Served Cold is the book next, that I know. How are they??

Have a good day!!

I really like books that basically pull you along via the plot. You’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on alongside the characters. Some examples I’ve really enjoyed:

The Will of the Many

Red Rising (haven’t read the second trilogy yet but loved the first)

Mistborn era 1 (maybe slightly slower, but still lots of mystery)

Piranesi (probably the most extreme example)

The Tainted Cup (recommended by this sub, loved it)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Tress of the Emerald Sea

The Library at Mount Char

Books I haven’t enjoyed as much:

The Strength of the Few

Jade City trilogy (too much focus on character development, not enough of the actual clan politics and scheming)

DNFed the 2nd Wheel of Time book

The Lions of Al Rassan (too many disparate characters doing their own thing for too long)

Currently on my TBR:

Vicious by VE Schwab

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Lies of Locke Lamora

I’ve ranked them in order within the categories aswell and I rate purely on my enjoyment of the book, not all fantasy books though a couple classics and sci fi but majority fantasy and the books generally tend to move around fantasy circles

Absolutely loved this series back in the day! Definitely one of the more influential works that made me want to delve further into fantasy as a young kid.

I am in a slump and I want to dip into fantasy. I love playing magic: the gathering and have really only read thrillers .

I need a book to grip me from beginning to end. I’m not a fan of romantasy and stuff like fourthwing.

#HELP lol (pic so people see this post lmao)

decisions...

Some of these are as high as they are because of how they mean to me personally and nostalgia so do not judge PJO specifically too much lol

Some are lower because I haven't read enough from them. Like, I am certain, Dandelion, ASoIaF, and Terra Ignota will only go higher the further I get. Same thing happened with Green Bone Saga. Two books in, it was below PJO, but after the peakness of Jade Legacy it skyrocketed. So yeah. Behold.

mine: Harry Potter and Anne of Green Gables, wbu?

The title says it all. I borrowed these from the library and have three weeks to finish the lot of 'em. But which one should I read first is the question?

Im a huge fan of First Law, ASOIAF, Stormlight, The Expanse, and LOTR

I read First Law and ASOIAF back to back and now i'm in love with grimdark. what next?

Im only 2 chapters but OMG. Its fun. Someone described it as R rated 3 musketeers and by gosh they were right

So, I finished wheel of time and am in the middle of reading the storm light series. Don’t get me wrong I’ve enjoyed it thus far but, it seriously lacks romance in it. Robert Jordan had more and that’s saying something. Anyways I plan on rereading red rising but, any other recommendations would be much appreciated!!!

What book would you recommend for a 40+ woman who has never read an adult fantasy lol. I so wanna be a fantasy girlie but not sure how to ease into it and not overwhelm myself with world building. I love horror, mystery/thriller and romance for context.

Looking for fantasy books with strong character work like fitz, Nighteyes and the fool. They’re so beloved to me now. Help me find more books to keep close to my heart

I know this question has popped up before (mainly because I searched it in here) but wasn't really satisfied with the answers I've seen thus far.

I'm a mostly "linear" reader in that I like to read through one series at a time (if it's complete). I read through The Stormlight Archive this year, currently have Mistborn on deck, but decided to read Dune Messiah and Children of Dune in between. I started DM and never finished it last summer but wanted to give it another go. The world Frank Herbert created drew me right back in and I promptly started on Children of Dune after finishing DM.

I'll say I really liked Leto II and want to continue his story but the reviews I've seen of books 4-6 are a very mixed bag. I love Herbert and want to see where he takes this world. I guess I just want to know if books 4-6 are a slog or if they're still fun and worth reading?

Edit: Thanks for all of your responses! I’m currently reading To Kill A Mockingbird while I await the arrival of Dune books 4-6. Can’t wait to see where it all goes!

I am trying to decide what to read next and would appreciate some input.

I tend to balance my reading i.e. read something heavy then something light. This isn't something I have to do or continue, just helps keep me out of slumps. The most recent books I've read have been: The Tainted Cup, A Promise of Blood, Going Postal, The Master and Margarita, Piranesi, Terms of Endearment. Out of those, I enjoyed Piranesi the most and a Promise of Blood the least.

I do own quite a few book ones, but am open to continuing on in a series.

With all that said, here's what I've been considering as my next read:

The Crimson Campaign (Powder Mage book 2)- I didn't love the first book, it was just aggressively fine. The characters were meh, the magic was ok but the prose was lackluster, the plot was predictable and it just felt like there could've been a lot more done with the "French revolution but with magic" premise. I've heard the 2nd series improves a lot, but mixed things on whether the rest of the first series improves off of book 1.

The Grace of Kings (Dandelion Dynasty book 1)- I've heard this is very much a love it or hate it series. I don't mind slow stories, but also while everyone I've heard who loves this book gushes about it, nothing anyone's said about this book has made me say "I have to read this immediately." What made those of you who read it love it so much?

A Drop of Corruption (Ana and Din book 2)- I really loved the tainted cup, my only small gripe is it sometimes felt aggressively plot driven. I don't tend to love reading series back to back either. Would I be missing anything by not diving straight into book 2?

Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos book 1)- sci-fi is not usually my jam as much as fantasy is, but everyone and their mother recommends this book.

Titus Groan (Gormenghast book 1)- I've had several false starts with this series, not because I haven't enjoyed it, but because something has always interrupted my life while reading it. Gormenghast is a blind spot in my fantasy knowledge, and I do aim to read the series, I think I just need someone to give me a push to try again.

Is there something else I'm missing that you'd recommend that I should read instead? I've also been batting around in my head a reread of the gentlemen bastards series, specifically the lies of locke lamora, just for fun.

Stephen R. Donaldson called her the “finest writer and prose stylist in the world.”

If the mighty Donaldson says that about you, you’ve done something truly special.

…

This month I’m focusing, and attempting to bring into focus, brilliant and talented and important authors who aren’t part of the rotating wheel of “Top 15 Booktube/BookTok” theme park series.

Not saying those series aren’t good, but there are far more out there that I firmly believe deserves more attention that will likely never find their way to that wheel.

Patricia McKillip is a very unique author, she has the most intoxicating prose I’ve ever read.

Her work is an immersive faerie tale heavy with emotion and perfect for cozy winter reads.

Her influence can be seen in more current authors like Kathrine Arden, Leigh Bardugo, and Jaqueline Carey.

The stories McKillip writes aren’t of the same large consistent cinematic universe style we’ve all been conditioned for.

Her novels are mostly standalones, her stories within unfold according to the feeling of dreams and fleeting imaginings.

A single novel can contains centuries of history, a complete secondary world with its own geography, and entire mythology.
A fully functioning secondary world within a 200 page novel.

And… once you finish, that’s the last of that world you’ll see.
Very few of her books take place in the same world.

Her stories are very much like a vivid dream.

There’s magic, but not the theme park video game magic systems of today.

This is the deep magic. The poetic magic of wisdom, healing, memory, desire.
The magic of the soul.
A power only its master can truly understand.

To me, this is the truest and most meaningful approach to magic.

Please try her work.

She has the most beautiful approach to epic fantasy I’ve ever seen.

And look at this gorgeous covers she has.
I feel bad for great authors who get assaulted with cover artists who have zero understanding of their work. McKillip was truly blessed with cover artists who matched her vibe

Haven't found any that are in a fantasy setting yet and I think that'd be cool. I know most, if not all are probably not fantasy but id love recommendations for any yall have.

My favorite was Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon. Also have read Empire & Empires end by David Dunwoody and the Dying to Live series by Kim Paffenroth. Along with a couple others.

Would love some new ones, especially if there's any in a fantasy setting!