+-

Elder Scrolls


Author Topic: Fantasy books 'n series  (Read 122 times)

Shyamora[SkS]

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Posts: 163
  • Location: Breda, Netherlands
    • View Profile
Fantasy books 'n series
« on: August 04, 2013, 09:12:26 pm »
So, I don't know many books that I really like, but once I'm engrossed by a book, I read and read and read. So I was wondering whether we have some people here who have some recommendations on the genre. I'll list the ones I've read in the same manner as the Anime thread =)

A Song of Ice and Fire - The books of the 'game of thrones' series on tv. An epic with politics, plots in plots, war, and compelling storylines of well-developed characters. A very good fantasy write - 9/10 (5 out of 7 books are out, some 3000 pages so far)

The Wheel of Time - The longest fantasy series I personally know, and perhaps the best. This is set in a complete world with several continents, of which two fully developed. Unique cultures, creatures and people. The story is about a boy (18ish) who is 'the Dragon Reborn', and is destined to fight the final battle. VERY LONG - 9.5/10 (14 books are out, excluding maps and other paraphernalia)

Bartimaeus - A trilogy about a boy growing up to become a magician in an aristocratic, magician ruled London. These magicians perform their magic by binding demons to their will. - 8.5/10

Furthermore there's The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Warcraft 3 series and Harry Potter which we're all familiar with I'm sure =)
'Night has become painful to me, it brings to light the regrets of day' - George Livingstone

'Gather yer rosebuds while old times are still a flyin'' - Mike Portnoy

'Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.' - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Chakra

  • Runtag Supremo
  • *****
  • Posts: 279
    • View Profile
    • Chatcraft
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2013, 09:45:18 pm »
Wheel of Time: Good overall series. Books get a bit slow around 8-10 or so, but once Sanderson takes over it gets pulled tight and finishes nicely. 9/10

Mistborn: Sanderson's main claim to fame. Good series overall. A planned three arcs (two finished), based on a very fixed magic system. First three take place in basic technology, second set take place around 1910s or so. Third set to take place in futuristic society. A lot more character focused than most high fantasy. 8/10

Sword of Truth: Probably one of the most simple magic systems you can find (besides LotR, where it is 100% unexplained). Overall, the books are entertaining. Would place a low priority after others. 7/10

Inheritance: The Eragon series. Paolini is universally made fun of for his somewhat childlike writing style and his plots are rehashed. Nethertheless, the cycle is entertaining, at least more so than Sword of Truth. The fourth book sucked, though. 6/10

The Kingkiller Chronicle: One of the best series. Full of action, quick paced, excitable characters, etc. Ruthfuss is praised as writing some of the greatest modern fantasy, and I must agree. Only three planned books (two finished) that I know of, so pretty short. 9/10

Codex Alera: A pretty good series based on controlling spirits. The magic system is well flushed and there are some wow moments. It is definitely looking into if you want something that doesn't follow the old formulas. 8.5/10

Demon Cycle: Another different fantasy series. The characters are interesting, but sometimes not so. Further, they don't act as natural as they should. However, the series and story are quite good. Book 4 isn't out yet, but is soon to be: book 3 leaves on a huge cliffhanger. :D 8/10

Farseer Trilogy: As I write these, I realize that magic systems really do differ from each other. This one isn't nearly as flushed out as you'd want, but it is OK. The last book was a bit odd and probably not as good as it could have been, but eh. I recommend it. 7/10

Lightbringer: I truly liked these. Only the first two books of a planned four have been published, but they each end quite nicely on their own (a bit episodic, I suppose?). The series has an innovated plot and magic system based solely on light. 7.5/10

Malazan Book of the Fallen: Currently reading this series, and it is by and far my favorite series I've ever read. The characters are generally all interesting and identifiable. Beyond that, it is an incredibly rich world with an even richer history. You thought ogres were innovative? See what this series has. The books tend to all take place at slightly different times (they intersect), with the later ones being a bit more linear. The first few books have completely separate characters, but they stay within the overall plot and the later books interweave them. While the series in overall length isshorter than Wheel of Time, if you added Malazan they'd be far longer. 10/10

Gentleman Bastards: A fun series. Don't take it too seriously: it's a fantastical thief series. 8/10

Nightrunner: Gay elves. What can be better? First and second books are OK, middle ones kind of blah, last one good. 7/10

Rifter: More gays. Books incredibly short. Finished series in a week? 9/10

The Stormlight Archive: Sanderson's grand masterwork. He's seriously been working on it his entire life. While in a slightly different scope than Malazan, this is seriously the highest quality you'll find. Only the first book has been completed of a planned ten, with the second one coming out later this year I believe. 10/10

Song of the Fallen: More gay elves. 7/10


Seriously, the last three are good, just not complex interwoven stories. They're romances, for god sakes, so two main characters.


If I had to pick one, I'd say MALAZAN (Book of the Fallen first, ofc)!
« Last Edit: August 04, 2013, 09:53:40 pm by Chakra »

Celestial_One

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Posts: 219
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2013, 09:53:18 pm »
The Belgariad - Series starts off with a young boy growing up on a farm and then finds himself surrounded by important people and events. Magic is explained. David Eddings hit home with me when I read this in highschool. I highly suggest it. 5 Books.

The Mallorean - Once the Belgariad is finished, it starts the Mallorean. Same characters only older and same universe. 5 Books.

Polgara the Sorceress - About Polgara, the sorceress. She plays main role in belgariad and mallorean. Great book. Gives you a lot of history into the story of the belgariad and mallorean. Same with below.

Belgarath the Sorcerer - About Belgarath, the sorcerer. Plays a main role in B + M. Better than Polgara the sorceress imo.

The Night Angel Trilogy - About a wetboy (an assassin) and his training and eventually his role in saving world etc. Lots of politics involved. Very good books lots of plot twists, humor, tragedy, and action.

XXXandBEER

  • Runtag Supremo
  • *****
  • Posts: 324
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2013, 10:06:29 pm »
Don't read books they are just very detailed spoilers for when the movie/show comes out. I'm 100% against reading spoilers why ruin something.

Celestial_One

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Posts: 219
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2013, 10:20:27 pm »
Don't watch movies before reading the book. Sometimes they skip over vital parts of the story and are rarely better than the books. There are a handful of exceptions, obviously.

Shyamora[SkS]

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Posts: 163
  • Location: Breda, Netherlands
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2013, 10:25:46 pm »
I'll check out Malazan first =)

@Beer, damn, I pity you.

Btw, I have a little project by the name of 'A Speck of Dust', where I've written a prologue and I need some opinions on whether the style of writing is good and if the story is captivating. It's a 15 page (A5) prologue to an epic-fantasy, and I wanna see if it absorbs the reader. Would really appreciate some comments on it =)
http://storywrite.com/story/10484063-A_Speck_of_Dust-by-Joshuavk
'Night has become painful to me, it brings to light the regrets of day' - George Livingstone

'Gather yer rosebuds while old times are still a flyin'' - Mike Portnoy

'Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.' - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

XXXandBEER

  • Runtag Supremo
  • *****
  • Posts: 324
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2013, 04:05:48 am »
Don't watch movies before reading the book. Sometimes they skip over vital parts of the story and are rarely better than the books. There are a handful of exceptions, obviously.

If it wasn't in the movie/show then it clearly wasnt important so you just wasted your time reading that haha. If you really want to read the spoilers go for it I'd rather enjoy the movie/show and not know whats going to happen from spoilers.

Celestial_One

  • Legend
  • ****
  • Posts: 219
    • View Profile
Re: Fantasy books 'n series
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2013, 12:06:17 pm »
If it wasn't in the book/novel then it clearly wasn't important and you wasted your time watching that haha. If you really want to watch spoilers go for it, but I'd rather enjoy the book and not know what's going to happen from the movie.

 

Recent Posts

Re: Sheep Tag (East) A Complete History by iAMMYOWNSTONE
March 26, 2023, 04:46:15 am

Re: Sheep Tag (East) A Complete History by Alph4bet
January 03, 2023, 02:14:02 pm

капли для похудения by Mrunitemanymn
August 19, 2022, 07:27:59 pm

капли для похудения by Mrunitemanymn
August 19, 2022, 12:44:08 pm

Reconnecting With The Community - Sheep Tag Discord by FaceOfMelinda
January 11, 2022, 12:45:00 am

Re: Sheep Tag (East) A Complete History by Mitnek
August 17, 2021, 04:11:39 am

YOoooo by Celestial_One
February 04, 2020, 04:05:05 pm

hey guys! by Celestial_One
January 01, 2020, 01:08:18 am


Shoutbox

View Shout History