The Cool Kids' Fantasy Club discussion

I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wight, Andrew Rowe, Farland, Robert Jordan, Peter v Brett, Patrick rothfuss, Brian McClellan, Jim butcher, Myke Cole,Brent Weeks

I also love the dark lord as villain trope and an awesome coming of age plot line but it's okay if it's not there as well.

Looking forward to your recommendations.
*Edit 1: Forgot to add Brent Weeks in there

The Name of the Wind is very good on that.

For me as well Brandon Sanderson is the first one comming to my mind, hearing awesome magic system 😂

I really liked the Magic System of The Waking Fire with it's Drake Blood. Also, if you're up for something complex, maybe Gardens of the Moon?
And if you're looking for something lighter, I really liked The Queen's Poisoner, you've got to see the enemy's side as well and get to know their motives.

I haven't read it yet but I heared that The Black Prism's Magic System is great too.

A. wrote: "The Name of the Wind is very good on that."I have already mentioned Patrick Rothfuss in my post.

Sir Anni wrote: "For me as well Brandon Sanderson is the first one comming to my mind, hearing awesome magic system 😂

I really liked the Magic System of The Waking Fire with it's Drake Blood. Also,..."

Yes Sanderson is really good, and so I have mentioned it in my original post.

I have been meaning to readThe Waking Fire. I have read Anthony Ryan's first book but the rest in the series were not that interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks for the rec.

Malazan... I have tried really hard to read it but it is really difficult... I will pick it up at some point... Any tips?

I have read Black Prism and Night Angel by Weeks... Forgot to add it in the original post... Have now edited it...

Terin wrote: "Sir Anni wrote: "For me as well Brandon Sanderson is the first one comming to my mind, hearing awesome magic system 😂

I really liked the Magic System of The Waking Fire with it's D..."

I really liked Blood Song, but the sequel not that much... Sadly, I couldn't even be bothered to read book 3. But the Draconis Memoria Trilogy was really different in my opinion and I enjoyed all three books!

I just started Malazan myself, I'm not sure I'm much help here 😅 But another group here, Fantasy Buddy Reads (totally recommend the group in general, it's awesome!), is doing a slow paced Buddy Read right now, on of the Mods left a lot of really helpful comments for each chapter. It makes the story a lot more easier and reading the book with others is really motivating. You can find the thread here, would be great to have you :)

Sir Anni wrote: "Terin wrote: "Sir Anni wrote: "For me as well Brandon Sanderson is the first one comming to my mind, hearing awesome magic system 😂

I really liked the Magic System of [book:The Waking Fire|2597217..."

Wow... Thanks a lot!... I'll definitely check it out...

I think all the ones I know of have been covered here already.

Courtney Schafer's The Whitefire Crossing has structured magic that leads to complex puzzles that need to be saved. Great trilogy.

Mark wrote: "I think all the ones I know of have been covered here already.

Courtney Schafer's The Whitefire Crossing has structured magic that leads to complex puzzles that need to be saved. G..."

Nice!!... I'll give it a try...
Thanks for the comment...

I thought Foundryside had a really cool magic system. (it's somewhat similar to The Emperor's Soul ) It's really fun and full of creative uses.

Reading John Gwynne;s Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all of the other authors you listed so you would probably like this one, Steven Erikson's Malazan Books of the Fallen or R Scott Baker's the Darkness that comes before are also awesome books.

Verrem wrote: "I thought Foundryside had a really cool magic system. (it's somewhat similar to The Emperor's Soul ) It's really fun and full of creative uses."

Yeah I heard about Foundryside ... I will definitely take a look at it... Thanks for the rec...

Kevin wrote: "Reading John Gwynne;s Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all of the other authors you listed so you would probably lik..."

Actually the Faithful and the Fallen series is mostly the next series I am going to pick up... Thanks for the rec...

Both Malazan and Darkness are very difficult books that I had a hard time reading..barely could make it past a few pages... Any tips?

Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Reading John Gwynne's Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, a great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all of the other authors you listed so you would..."
With the Malazan books I started with the second book in the series by accident and it has a lot more action right away, you just have to keep in mind that it is truly epic characters you are introduced in the first two books are not in the 3rd or fourth and then the fifth ties them all together. I have read the entire series including Ian Essemonts books multiple times and will again. As far as the darkness that comes before that story is full of psychology and an in-depth look at evil and morals. I have also read it more than once and found new stuff each time. They are both really dense and complicated and those are the types of books I love but they definitely are really complicated and not necessarily an "easy" read. For example my 16-year-old has been reading adult fantasy with me for about 3-4 years but those books I consider to still be too complicated for her, she tried to start the Malazan books with me and just couldn't keep up with all of the stuff she has to do in school and friends, I, on the other hand, don't really have any other hobbies besides reading, writing and y family so I devote way more time to reading than her, but I know as she ages and wants more complicated books she will read them, especially the Malazan books.

Kevin wrote: "Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Reading John Gwynne's Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, a great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all of the other authors you li..."

Thanks for your response... I have been reading fantasy for a long time... But I hate tough books[American Gods, Beyond Redemption,Black Company,Dark Tower among others]... I read few pages at a time in my mobile phone whenever I get the time... Reading tough books this way is annoying...

That said I have been meaning to read Malazan for a long long time now... Just need to find the right time for it...

Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Reading John Gwynne's Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, a great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all of the other ..."

LOL Dark Tower is one of my all-time favorites, "the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed" is like "my name is Ismael" to me. So is the Black Company Glen Cook father of dark fantasy some say. I just finished American gods earlier in 2018 and I have to say I found it to be a refreshing and light read but some of the themes can sure set the mind to spinning, I do have to mention I am on the spectrum considered to be Aspy or ASD now so my thinking may be a little different than some.

Kevin wrote: "Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Terin wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Reading John Gwynne's Malice right now and it has a lot of what you are looking for, a great coming of age story, Epic setting and I love all..."

I really wish I could read dark tower series... I like Stephen king but for some reason these books did not take well with me...

Has anyone mentioned The Poppy War? It's an incredible book with everything you ask for.

A darker shade of magic does soft magic really well

Patricia wrote: "Has anyone mentioned The Poppy War? It's an incredible book with everything you ask for."

Poppy War has a hard magic system? I heard about the book, sure and it's gruesome aspects but didn't hear about this... Is the book really good? It's not that I don't like gory Grimdark books... For me as long as it makes sense, ill go with it... But most times the gore puts me off because authors overdo it... And the magic system, could you elaborate without spoiling anything, if possible?

Gryffin wrote: "A darker shade of magic does soft magic really well"

I have read schwab's darker shade of magic series and Vicious... As you said it has a soft magic system, and frankly speaking, the darker shade of magic series wasn't that great in my opinion... The books kept dragging on and on...

Terin wrote: "I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wight, Andrew Rowe..."

Man after my own heart.

At the risk of self-promotion, you should check out...

Magic system comparable to Sanderson? Check.
Coming of age plotline? Check.
Dark Lord trope? Yes . . . but by now you should really just read the book blurb.

Justin wrote: "Terin wrote: "I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wigh..."

Thanks Justin... But the book hasn't been released yet... Looking for books that have already been released...

But I will surely check out the book when it releases though... Thanks for the rec...

Justin wrote: "Terin wrote: "I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wigh..."

Sounds interesting, I'll add it to my list.

Terin wrote: "I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wight, Andrew Rowe..."

R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy has probably my favourite magic system. Either that or The Name of the Wind, which you know already.
For something a few shades lighter, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time has everything you are looking for and more.

Wes wrote: "Terin wrote: "I am looking for fantasy book recommendations mainly featuring an awesome, well thought-out magic systems.
For instance like Brandon Sanderson's books.

I already know about will wigh..."