Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Hey, I wanted to know what in your minds are the best fantasy series to read. preferably complete or waiting for just one more book. I really liked Name of the wind, ASOIAF, and just started reading the Gentleman bastard. would love more recommendations!

Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson), which I just read in the past couple years.
The Wars of Light and Shadow (Janny Wurts) which is unfinished but in process, maybe 2 books remaining?

To be perfectly honest, though, I like most of the series I've read, but these 2 really stand out.

Although it's probably not what you're looking for, I can't not mention Terry Pratchett's Discworld. It's not your typical fantasy, it's more of a parody (of both fantasy and reality) with a philosophical twist, but Sir Pratchett's humour is just brilliant. The Dsicworld series is a collection of approximately 50 books, but except for the first two (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic), which are supposed to be read together, pretty much all books can be read as stand-alones. And they're pretty short (about 200 pages), so you can always pick one up at random and just see if you like it. There are mini-series within the series, you can find some really neat charts on google, but I wouldn't recommend starting with one of Rincewind's books, because most people (including me) think his is the least interesting of the mini-series.

I'd also recommend Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings. I read Assassin's Apprentice a while back and absolutely loved it. Still haven't finished the rest of the series, though (it's a collection of trilogies, as far as I know). I have high expectations, but procede with caution :D

Wheel of time is my favourite series of all time but I also enjoyed malazan by Steven Erickson. the chronicles of the black company by Glen cook I'm on the books of the south at the moment and I love this series.

Kathi wrote: "Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson), which I just read in the past couple years.
The Wars of Light and Shadow (Janny Wurts) which is unfinished but in process, ..."

Two books remaining: one is completed/in production, due out Sept 7, 17, (cover art in process now) and then there is only the one more to wrap the entire series.

Janny wrote: "Kathi wrote: "Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson), which I just read in the past couple years.
The Wars of Light and Shadow (Janny Wurts) which is unfinished bu..."

Thanks for the update, Janny. I will be rereading the whole series when it is finished--I read along as part of a different group's read but stopped before Initiate's Trial.

Rachel Aaron The Legend of Eli Monpress, Cool characters engaging story and lots of humour. finished series.

Anne Bishop The Black jewels series. Both dark and funny. Has a world very different from the usual fantasy realms and societies. Finished series.

C.S. Friedman The Coldfire trilogy, darker fantasy with a fascinating anti-hero. Finished trilogy

Janny wrote: "Kathi wrote: "Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson), which I just read in the past couple years.
The Wars of Light and Shadow (Janny Wurts) which is unfinished bu..."
Janny
I am looking forward to finally picking up your series for a read and have the first two of your books on my TBR, but am trying to get my arms around the series as a whole from a reading perspective. I see they are numbered and in arcs, however there is a prequel, Reins of Destiny, and several other titles. Should all be read in published order, as I am the completest.

I don't have a favourite. There are some excellent ones read by the group, you could check the comments in the threads.

hey all, thanks for keeping the conversation going. I started reading Assassin's apprentice and it is really growing on me. also started to read the lies of Locke Locke lamora but felt like it wasn't going very far and was not captivating. what else would you recommend ( I heard talks of miles Cameron's series, and read the first chapter of uprooted that was pretty good)? TIA!

Rebecca wrote: "I thought Assassin's Apprentice was ok, but a little too simplistic for my tastes. Have you tried A Game of Thrones? Some people don't get on with it because it's too long with too man..."
I have only read a few of Hobb's books but I think they get more complex as they go on. Not to the point of Game of Thrones or Malazan, but less simplistic, IMO.

I liked assassins apprentice but found Hobbs Liveship Trilogy more complex and so much better. I loved it! It can also be read in its own without missing out on anything but a few small references (that are more a wink-and-a-nod) to the Fraser Trilogy.

I read all the ASOIAF books that came out and liked them even though I felt they were slow at times. almost done with Assassin's apprentice and I agree with you that it is much more simplistic. what else would you recommend taking a shot at? I bought mage blood, sleeping giants, and the broken earth on my Kindle, haven't started any of them yet. also get the first of the Riyria revelations.

Yaniv wrote: "I read all the ASOIAF books that came out and liked them even though I felt they were slow at times. almost done with Assassin's apprentice and I agree with you that it is much more simplistic. wha..."

I just started Riyria and liked the first book a lot. It's a relatively simple story to begin with, but with layers that get revealed as the story progresses.

Frank wrote: "Janny wrote: "Kathi wrote: "Malazan Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson), which I just read in the past couple years.
The Wars of Light and Shadow (Janny Wurts) which is..."

Just saw your post, Frank.

I recommend that if you like a story that is complex, and unfolds in stages that doesn't tip its hand straight away, then reading the first three novels in the series as a 'set' works best. Though the first book doesn't cliff hang, a lot of the character and situation deepens in the second arc - which was really one book split in 'two' (Ships of Merior/Warhost of Vastmark as ONE STORY) so all of the convergency and denouement hits in Vastmark - even though there is a 'pause point'.

The short stories are likely best read somewhere in the third Arc, during Alliance of Light as they are 'reveals' of back history that readers tended to 'oversimplify' - and the fleshing out of those aspects will deepen what you see on the page.

The alternate choice is if you are the sort of reader that HAS to know what's going on the instant your feet hit the ground....if you want more insight into the tangles behind the situation in Mistwraith - then, you COULD start with Child of Prophecy - that will clearly illuminate things that (as the series progresses) will unfold - and also add a layer of depth. The caveat is this: the series is NOT A ROMANCE - but Child of Prophecy is; so I'd hesitate to have a male reader try that first, unaware that it may lend a false impression of the series as a whole.

The third arc (Alliance of Light) opens the series up to 'world view' and takes its time doing so; the satellite shorts will leap that gap more quickly and if you like to know where you're going without the slam of the reveals - the shorts will accelerate your understanding/lend a lot deeper insight.

So when to read them really depends on how you want to unfold the experience for yourself.

Any other questions - happy to answer if I can. Thanks for your interest.

I really like Dreams and Shadows by Jeffrey Collyer as well as the sequel Woven Peril.

Dragonvein and Godling Chronicles by Brian D Anderson.

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

Codex Alera by Jim Butcher

Cephrael's Hand by Melissa McPhail

& The Crimson Claymore if you like Terry Goodkind and R A Salvatore.

I loved a darker shade of magic. Very different and creative. just finished Assasain's apprentice- the writing was very good but it was too slow for me. Will try the black prism ando others

Robert Sanderson’s Mistborn series and Stormlight archives are among some of the best i’ve ever read. Also Patrick Rothfus’ The Name of the Wind is really enjoyable and actually well written.

Brent Weeks, Lightbringer series, amazing ending of 3rd tome, MUCH better than his debut series. Sanderson can kiss Weeks ring.

Craig wrote: "I really like Dreams and Shadows by Jeffrey Collyer as well as the sequel Woven Peril.

Dragonvein and Godling Chronicles by Brian D Anderson.

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

Codex Alera by Jim..."

With the exception of Wheel of Time, which I had difficulty getting into Jordan's writing, it was a little plodding for my tastes, this is a good list.

I'm just getting back into fantasy for the first time since high school. Right now, I'm really enjoying Robin Hobb.

More suggestions welcome! I'm on a fantasy kick right now and am having trouble figuring out what to read next.

Recent books & series I've enjoyed:

Emperor's Edge series, Lindsay Buroker
Nightrunner and Tamir Triad series, Lynn Flewelling
Chronicles of Tevenar series, Angela Holder
Dragonlinked series, Adolfo Garza, Jr
Stavin Dragonblessed series, Loren K. Jones
The Book of Deacon series, Joseph Lallo
Spellmonger series, Terry Mancour (not finished yet)
Paksenarrion series, Elizabeth Moon
Temeraire series, Naomi Novik
Discworld series, Terry Pratchett
Astreiant series, Melissa Scott (Never finished but no cliffhanger)
Riyria Chronicles & Riyria Revelations, Michael J. Sullivan
Frontier Magic series, Patricia Wrede
Ile-Rien series, March Wells
The Accidental Sorcerer series, K. E. Mills

And others I can't remember and anyhow I'm tired of typing lists and you can assume I've read the classics. :)

What I'm not looking for: Lots of graphic violence, rape, child abuse, vampires, werewolves, post-apocalyptic earth.

My tastes run to sword-and-sorcery and dragons and magic systems. I like a bit of humor, when I can get it.

There are so many great ones!

Probably my all-time favorite was Malazan Book of the Fallen, it just has jaw-dropping scope to it, which is present right from the first book.
I also enjoyed the companion series by Ian C. Esslemont, Novels of the Malazam Empire. The writing in that series gets better every book. In fact, I feel his second series, Path to Ascendancy, is better than Erikson's second series, The Kharkanas Trilogy.


Other noteworthy series:

ASoIaF
Carol Berg's Rai-Kirah
Ryria Revelations
Janny's War of Light and Shadow
Anything by Butcher
Discworld
Joe Abercrombie's First Law
The Long Price Quartet
and Anything by Robin Hobb

Thanks for the suggestions!