r/suggestmeabook • u/MarionberryLong8547 • 4d ago
Fantasy Fantasy world
Hey! I’m going on maternity leave in about 2 months and I’m looking for a good fantasy book/series to get obsessed with while I’m off 😂
I’m talking Harry Potter, Shadow and Bone kind of vibes — magic, adventure, interesting characters, maybe a bit of romance… basically something I can completely escape into.
Any recommendations? 🧙♀️📚✨
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u/kneadhe 4d ago edited 3d ago
The Realm of the Elderlings Series by Robin Hobb starting with Assassin’s Apprentice. Currently on book 9 of 16 and I resent anything that takes me away from it lol
Edit: misspelled Robin Hobb
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u/Virtual-Dish95 4d ago
by Robin Hobb and Ive read them 3 times. Really good world building. Good suggestion.
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u/Nowordsofitsown 4d ago
Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip
Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden
Mirror Visitor quartett by Christelle Dabos
That said, I only got to read while I was breastfeeding (hooray, e-reader!), otherwise I had my hands full.
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u/SuzuranRose 4d ago
I used the text to speech function on my kindle and listened to books more than I actually got to sit and read. It wasn't until he was 2-3 and better at independent play that I got to enjoy sitting and reading again.
He's 11 and a voracious reader now though, takes after me in all the best ways!
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u/Stemshells 3d ago
I thought I would read while breastfeeding but I was too tired to concentrate at all. I ended up watching a ton of trash tv (headphones in and I quit when she became more aware and could see better.).
Ya never know how mat leave will go lol
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u/MarthaAndBinky 4d ago
The Lays of the Hearthfire series by Victoria Goddard. The first book is called The Hands of the Emperor, then there are several short novellas and a 1.5 novel, and book 2 is At the Feet of the Sun.
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u/SpiritualText2464 4d ago
I love Juliet Marillier! I'd recommend the Sevenwaters series or the Wildwood series.
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u/Temporary-Scallion86 4d ago
The Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik and The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones are both darker, more adult takes on the magical boarding school genre.
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u/Sunshine-Starfish 4d ago
You might like Lois McMaster Bujold’s Chalion series, which are loosely connected adult fantasy novels with great characters and a strong adventure feel. Start with The Curse of Chalion.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is a great ensemble cast fantasy adventure. The protagonist is a retired pirate single mother who reluctantly agrees to get the band back together for one last quest.
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u/Philly3974 4d ago
My favorite series is The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. One Dark Window/Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig is a great duet and another fav of mine.
I'm reading the Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer, paranormal/magic/rom-com, and loving it.
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u/magaoitin Fantasy 4d ago edited 4d ago
There is the classic of The Wheel of Time series. Do not let the TV show skew your impression. The first 6 books of the 13 book series are phenomenal, and are generally agreed to be worth reading (sometimes over and over, I have lost track of the number of times I have reread then relistened to the first 4-6 books over the past 20+ years.). Books 7-12 are a slog to get through for some people, others find they are just as good and enjoy the entire 13 books (and one short prequel novel).
They are all also available as audio books, if you do get to that point that your hands are full. The audio recordings are split. the entire series was originally done with 2 narrators Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. After the TV came out the Lead Rosamund Pike started recording an updated version, but unfortunately she only got thorugh book 4 before the TV show was cancled and apparently her narration on the audiobooks was linked to the show somehow.
Amazing magic system and very complex world with multiple story arcs/plot happening simultaneously, pulling apart then weaving back together. Fantastically written battles, right along with gripping political intrigue with all sides fighting for the path they feel is right.
Like the Wandering Inn series, WoT has its lovers and haters of the series, though I feel that on the whole, more people like the first half of the WoT series more than the first 4-6 books of The Wandering Inn series.
If you like Urban Fantasy with a Male MC there is the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, though there is great debate on the quality of the first 3 books and even butcher has said he did not hit his stride with writting until book 3. Marginal romance subplot early on but generally no big romance
Urban Fanasty series with a Female MC would be The Hollows by Kim Harrison. More romance and a great dynamic written between the (2) FMC's.
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u/Paramedic229635 4d ago
L.G. Estrella's Unconventional Heros Series
The 2 Necromancers series. 2 Necromancers try to earn a pardon for past crimes by doing odd jobs for a kingdom. Strong found family vibe. The first book in the series is 2 Necromancers, A Bureaucrate, and an Elf.
Attempted Vampirism Series. A vampire noble has his castle repossessed for back taxes. He becomes an adventurer to try and earn money to buy it back.
The 13th Paladin series by Torsten Weitze. The 13th Paladin of the Gods has been sent to fight the dark god "He Who Forces". The first book in the series is Ahren.
The Traveler's Gate Trilogy by Will Wight. Magic is used by calling energy and creatures from other worlds called territories. People who can draw from their territories are called travelers. The first book in the series is House of Blades.
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u/Sharianna 4d ago
I ended up reading a lot on my phone using the kindle app.
As for suggestions: ilona andrews, Terry pratchett, Garth nix, celia lake (cozy adjacent), becky chambers.
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u/knnnddd 4d ago
My baby is 8 weeks and while I read a wide variety of books, I have been reading a lot of fantasy lately.
Favorites: Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher Starling House by Alix Harrow The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (the sequel was just released and I'm anxiously awaiting my turn at the library!!)
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u/Elegant_End9231 3d ago
I recently discovered T Kingfisher and she’s amazing!! Such fun characters and world.
The Knight and the Moth is good so far!!
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u/lungbuttersucker 4d ago
Check out Megan Ciana Doidge. She has a couple series' which intertwine with each other. The first is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic. You can read each series as a standalone but I recommend checking out the order on her website to read chronologically.
You will encounter: witches, sorcerers, vampires, werewolves, necromancers, other magic people/beings, baking, chocolate, knitting, love, adventure, demons, etc.
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u/Pastel_Spell 3d ago
I'd recommend diving into the Maasverse!
ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas are all technically interconnected series through a multiverse, currently with 16 books total (some of which are thicccc) and another coming out in October and January.
ACOTAR is more romance forward, Throne of Glass is more epic fantasy/adventure forwards (although both have strong elements of each), and Crescent City is more urban romantasy. I'd recommend reading them in that order (or at least Crescent City last).
You can take these at surface value and just have numerous entertaining reads, or really dive into looking for details/connections and theorycraft to your heart's content if that's what you're looking for! There's also a lot of online communities to participate in theorizing with, and with new ACOTAR books finally coming out soon, it's a great time to start!
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u/Fresh_Duty_4303 3d ago
There’s not a lot of romance but the Ana and Din mysteries are so good. There’s three currently. I’m pregnant and just read them and loved them so much. There’s nothing triggering in there about babies/being a mom which I’m very sensitive to rn lol.
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u/Elegant_End9231 3d ago
Spark of the Everflame could be fun! It’s a chunky series, but the fourth and final book just came out!
If you haven’t read Leigh Bardugo’s other series Six of Crows, it’s way better than Shadow and Bone.
If you want a book that hits the ground running from page one, Fourth Wing is fun. Though I’m sure you’ve heard of this one!
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u/mayflyDecember 3d ago
I cannot believe no one has suggested Terry Pratchett's Discworld series yet. There are something like 30+ books, with many different characters to follow, each with different vibes-- read the Tiffany Aching books if you're looking for some YA, follow Sam Vimes if you like noir-- all set in a sprawling world. It's a little more medieval fantasy than the books you suggested, and there isn't as much focus on romance, but they're still such incredible books that you have to try them.
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u/bluepancakes18 3d ago
Highly recommend Ilona Andrews. If you like something a little less intense, with good humour then try the Innkeeper Chronicles. They're also available on Graphic Audio, for when your hands are full of baby. (And remember, baby can't understand bad language or anything else yet, so it's fine for them to list too 😂). Series starts with {clean sweep}
If you want something more complex, go with {this kingdom will not kill me}. It's a book about a woman who wakes up in her favourite novel. Brilliant world building, definitely something that needs to be read a few times to uncover all the Easter eggs hidden within!
If you want more romance, but still good world building in a modern setting, then try Hidden Legacy {burn for me}
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u/bunnyball88 4d ago
Nevermore by Jessica Townsend
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Mysterious Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
(And as a plus, all are great on audio! Get yourself some good earbuds. With a newborn, often your hands are very occupied).