For context, I’m a lifelong Tolkien fan, loved The Kingkiller Chronicle, ASOIAF, and Dune; also enjoyed a lot Earthsea, Circe, and Mistborn.

Currently reading the Farseer trilogy.

Got in my TBR (pretty long-term goals lol): First Law, Malazan, The Wheel of Time, Stormlight Archive, and The Dark Tower.

I’ve been getting through Tad Williams’ Memory Sorrow and Thorn trilogy lately and am almost finished with its it’s impossibly massive third installment, To Green Angel Tower.

Then I will begin his Last King of Osten Ard series, which is a sequel, and hopefully, by the time I’m done with that, the new books will
done.

Apparently The Splintered Sun is a prequel to Memory Sorrow and Thorn that will be a Dualogy.

Something I’ve always admired about Tad is his ability to write stories that have an ending.

As in, there is a beginning and a few books covering the events of the story, following the character’s journeys and exploring the world and whatnot, and then, eventually, after much storytelling, there is a sort of final installment that serves as what we would call an “ending”.

There’s an entire book dedicated to wrapping things up and making sense of the whole thing.

This is a good approach to epic fantasy and sci fi.

Many modern fantasy authors consider Tad to be a bridge between the classical fantasy world and the modern one. I agree with this.

Martin gives enormous credit to Tad as his primary inspiration for Song of Ice and Fire.

Brandon Sanderson hails Tad’s Osten Ard books as a “masterpiece”.

And Patrick Rothfuss..

Yes, many authors consider Tad to be a pillar of the genre.

My favorite series of his is Memory Sorrow and Thorn. I adore it so much that I wish that HBO had greenlit a high budget production of it instead of Game of Thrones.

I am a part of a sizable group of people who think Memory Sorrow and Thorn is actually better than Game of Thrones and far more screen ready…. And finished

His other series, Otherland and Shadowmarch are equally masterful.

Otherland specifically is groundbreaking in numerous ways.

Shadowmarch is underrated, and I hope to see it get its due attention someday.

I think out of all the authors who wrote faean folk, Tad is probably the best.

Even his standalones are good. Tailchaser’s Song is the cutest book ever, and War of the Flowers is my favorite portal fantasy.

He also seems like such a humble guy in interviews.

I recall one where he’s doing a one to one discussion with Steven Erikson and they were talking g about the genre, the contrast between the two is so clear in that interview.

Tad has no ego.. no superiority complex, and seems to genuinely love the art like he loves his pets.

I consider him to be the best living American fantasy author.

What do you think of him and his work?

Not counting 390 pages from The Strength of the Few 😅

Finally finished the Sun Eater series and absolutely loved it! High praise but I'd rank it up there with Red Rising and Dungeon Crawler Carl as recent favorites. Lions of Al-Rassan not so much. Wanted to love it but didn't find myself as invested as other books I've read lately.

I conveniently found this and the complete trilogy dubbed The Mage Wars at a local used bookstore! Apparently these novels are part of a bigger mythology and are technically prequels to previous events. I also am using a Halloween candle to enhance the mystical cozy atmosphere while reading as we go into the Fall season! After reading this I will go through the rest of the trilogy, The White Gryphon and The Silver Gryphon!

I read the first 3 in the 5-book series last week, and they are fantastic.

The premise is that ghosts suddenly start appearing, and nobody is sure why. Eventually, you start getting hints about why and bump into other things like zombies, were-creatures (a very different take on these, though connected with the ghost bit), and demons.

The main character is Fix, essentially a PI exorcist character. He gets the living crap beat out of him in most books, and it is amazing he is still walking.

I'd say it is different than Dresden in that the action is more sporadic and the mystery part is the heavier focus. And the lead character isn't super badass, but more just trying to figure stuff out and usually getting pretty lucky.

Anyone read them?

What do you think?

P.s. Huge thanks to someone on Reddit who recommended this to me :)

This book was awesome! This was my first time listening to a Graphic Audio and I absolutely adored it. I started it a few hours ago and just got done listening to it and loved every second of it. Loved the main character and I want to know more about her.

As a Brandon Sanderson reader, you'd expect the book to have a plot twist in the end, but I thought this book had an ending much better while not being "SHOCKING" in any way. It was a simple ending,yet very powerful.

I liked this parallel between Gaotona throwing the book into the fire and Shae burning the painting earlier

I definitely think this book had a better writing quality than the og Mistborn trilogy, the only Sanderson series I've read. There was nothing Id change in this book and it is one of the best book I've ever read now.

Well, now let's talk about the audio performance. I loved it! The voice actress for Shae had such a soothing voice and I could listen to her voice all the time, ngl.

If you've not read it yet, Id highly recommend the Graphic Audio. Its only 3.5 hours long so you'd be able to finish it in a day.

That's all Id wanted to say. Have a good day!

I'm new to reading and have a lot I want to read though (like a hell of a lot) and I find myself wanting to start other series and/or before I've finished the one I've started.

So is it easy to read multiple at the same time and how do you manage it? I hear people talk about mixing genres but I really wanna binge high fantasy right now. Also how do you stop yourself from reading two, preferring one and subconsciously ditching the first one and that worries me too?

These might be dumb questions but just wondering how others tackle this is all

Heya friends,

I have just finished Assassins Apprentice and i struggle with whether i want to continue or not. Fitz just seems like the dumbest/most oblivious MC there is and that's so jarring. Like he seems even more "incompetent" than kvothe and i barely was able to read Wise Mans Fear bc he kept messing up constantly. Does this get better?

I read the two collections of stories, and the first two novels,, and I loved them. There are still 3 novels in the chronical order of the series, would they be such good as the first two ones? Thanks

For our anniversary he painted me a wooden box that opens and I can store things in! I was so impressed I had to share!

I finished The Heroes, the fifth First Law book. I've been loving the First Law series. The Heroes I liked, but it's probably my least favorite of the five I read. It's purely military focused.

I remember my time reading a lot of old Star Wars novels. The only one I didn't finish out of the ones I started, was Republic Commando, a military/war novel. So many amazing stories: Darth Plagueis, Kenobi, Labyrinth of Evil, Outbound Flight to name a few. The military Clone stuff felt really boring by comparison.

Now I'm getting the feeling I don't like military books. They feel dull, with long descriptions of details I don't care about. I like politics, interpersonal relations and mystery. Scope too. Thing is, I recently bought the first Malazan book. I want to read it next, but after The Heroes I've begun to wonder if Malazan will be for me. I've heard it's pretty military/war focused as well. What do you think?

Might have missed some books but I think this is close enough to give you a general idea. Never really delved into sci-fi but I'm open to it if it's something similar to Dune.

Edit: This is generating some confusion, I used the first book of the series to represent the series as a whole, I'm not some psychopath that only reads the first book and bails.

These are some of the series I've read so far in about 20 years, I did not read everything recently.

Hi there, I'm new and came here looking for someone to point me in the right direction: I'm looking for fantasy books with a human x elf romantic relationship where the different lifespans play a big role. There doesn't need to be a happy ending, what I want is a "I'm going to live for a very long time and will inevitably see you pass on and maybe we will reunite in your next lifetime" sort of situation.

If any of you read German books: What brought on this itch was re-reading Elfenmagie by Sabrina Qunaj and listening to Vergissmeinnicht by Oonagh & Santiano, specifically the lines "Meine endlos, deine schwindet. Ewig darfst du nicht sein. Wenn die Liebe uns verbindet, bist du bald wieder mein. Vergiss mein nicht und denk an mich, im nächsten Leben da wart' ich auf dich" (Roughly translated: Mine never-ending, yours fading. You cannot be eternal. If we are bound by love, you shall soon be mine again. Forget me not and think of me, I will be waiting for you in the next life)

In short: fantasy age-gap (preferrably human/elf), starcrossed lovers, reuniting in another lifetime, moody, kind of emo, want to bawl my eyes out over fictional characters, bonus points for poetic and melodramatic writing

I'm on book 6, I like the story but it's so cringe most of the time, the mc is obnoxious, the childish style is even worse than harry potter, literally every minute I read it I'm cringing. It's such a decent and long story but half of it is bad humour. Literally just the mc and his engram make me want to drop this, other characters are written very well. without fail, the author writes some bs like this every dozen minutes. is the conclusion worth continuing reading? does the mc ever shut the f*** up?

"Keith the clan lord is knocking on the door, what did you do this time" "Uhhh I don't know, sheesh why are you automatically looking at me, I was being a good boy, I promise. I'm not aalways causing problems, except maybe when I'm feeling extra cheeky, ofcourse, that's all the time hehe, uhh why are you looking at me like that? I haven't done everything yeeeet" "I'll ask katheda" "oh this cheeky brat was being cheeky, I've got to put him in line this is what happens after you hang around with machines so much..."

About done reading men at arms which i loved just as much as Guards! Guards! My fave part about the city watch books is the characters. They’re sooooo good which is my favorite part about books I love good characters. So any recommendations based on that.

On the 1st of every month, we make a sticky thread for authors to pitch their books directly to our members.

Please follow the pitch below; otherwise, we will remove it.

What is the required format for your pitch?

Book cover image: people love images 😄

Book Title and Author:

Pitch us your book in 70 words or less:

Optional: What books influenced your book:

Bookstore URL:

👩‍🚀🚀👽 Reminder: If you love science fiction books, please join our sister subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/readscifi/

The answer is no.. but I wanna hear your opinions anyway.

Fantasy doesn’t need any sort of magic or supernatural elements to be fantasy.

It can also come in the form of a secondary world.

If a story is set in a place that’s literally not our own universe, it’s fantasy.

So. This would make all of Guy Gavriel Kay’s work fantasy.

Magic and supernatural elements are very present within fantasy, but not an absolute requirement.

Martin could have given us a zero magic version of Song of Ice and Fire, and it would still be fantasy since it’s set in a secondary world.

This book might actually be the best book ever written regardless of genre.

I’m very in favor of Kay’s standalone approach in epic fantasy.

With Tigana he showed us that you can tell an epic story in a single installment.

His fantasy world (his main one) is called The World of Two Moons. And the books that are set there (I think 10?) are all 5/5 masterpieces.

Guy Gavriel Kay is an author who should get far more credit than he does.

Anyway, I’m glad this book is getting its due respect as a classic. I hope more people read it.

It’s wonderful

Hi, so I am a bit of a new reader, and I don't come from an English-speaking country. My main reading has always been web novels and the like (think Lord of the Mysteries), I'm just looking for some books that might have a Buddhist-inspired world-building or the like. It doesn't have to be in your face or anything. I just want to expand my repertoire of actual books I have read. Any reccomendations?

I really need another dark academia Romantasy with an enemies to lovers and forced proximity kind of tropes sprinkled in there. The zodiac academy came close but gosh that series is looooong

⬇SCROLL DOWN FOR LIST / GUIDE ⬇️

________________________________________________________________________________

📚LINK TO THE SISTER VERSION OF THE GUIDE ON [r/Blacklibrary](r/Blacklibrary)

(For General Reference and Comment Section Questions and Answers)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Blacklibrary/s/Z8gUyp8jLp

________________________________________________________________________________

For the [r/fantasybooks](r/fantasybooks) Community:

Though initially only intended for the [r/Blacklibrary](r/Blacklibrary) subreddit, I decided to post this guide on [r/fantasybooks](r/fantasybooks) in order to reach those who aren’t necessarily Warhammer fans but who’ve come across the extended universe novels and thought they seemed intriguing. Moreover, it is for those who felt the sheer volume of content in The Black Library was overwhelming and therefore unapproachable.

Through personal experience over the years reading all that the Warhammer universe has to offer, I decided it was well worth it to help as many others enjoy it as possible.

After an embarrassing amount of research and finagling, I believe I’ve designed an ‘all-levels’ guide that helps new readers and re-readers alike, experience the 30K/40K narrative landscape in a seamless and streamlined way, without the stress of ‘where to begin’ or ‘am I doing it wrong’.

So new readers don’t think the 30K/40K universe is for a monothematic or genre-locked demographic, here is a shortlist of fantasy authors I have also enjoyed:

- Brandon Sanderson
- Joe Abercrombie
- James Islington
- Patrick Rothfuss
- Scott Lynch
- Steven Erikson
- James S.A. Corey
- Pierce Brown
- Terry Pratchett
- Ursula K. Le Guin
- Anne McCaffrey
- Andrzej Sapkowski
- George R.R. Martin
- J.R.R. Tolkien (Obviously)

Always with a love and passion for stories,

many kind regards,

Muz.

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Just a Few Initial Notes:

This is an intentionally Imperium focused list with a few mandatory dips into Chaos, T’au, Necron and then a splattering of Ork towards the end.

If you consider yourself knowledgeable about the Black Library, you can most likely skip my explanation of the phase structure immediately below and proceed down to the list/guide itself. It will however, likely explain most queries you might have about my debatable phase sectionalisation and book order.

I have tried to design the guide so it is audiobook friendly, as a lot of people only have the time to enjoy The Black Library if they do so while multitasking.

Most importantly, as it’s my wish that this guide act as a longterm source for first time readers and re-readers alike, don’t hesitate to comment below if there’s an important omission from, or new addition to, The Black Library that you think I should include.

________________________________________________________________________________

🗣️🎙FOR NEWCOMERS WHO MAY FEEL OVERWHELMED

Simply experience and revel in the new universe you’ve just entered; and just like the real universe, don’t try to reach the boundary, it’s moving away too fast :D

Welcome to the grim darkness of the far future!

________________________________________________________________________________

PHASE AND NARRATIVE STRUCTURE:

The intention behind Phase 1 is to start with Space Marines’ factional foundations and to help the reader develop a rudimentary understanding of the Imperium. It also serves to build up intrigue and mystery as characters drop legendary references to figures and events now turned mythical or theological. I also added an intermission in the form of the Trazyn and Orikan, Necron duology. I did this partly to act as a tonal break from the Imperium, and partly because they are highly regarded, so I wanted the reader to experience them early.

Phase 2 then jumps back, opening what seemed like forbidden or forever lost ancient archives. The reader finally gets to experience the genesis of why systemic inquisitorial paranoia is so embedded and moreover, necessary, to holding a rotting empire together. I’ve primarily structured Phase 2 as a ‘main novels’, chronologically streamlined Heresy with a few important supplementary novels as well as some noteworthy Primarchs: Horus Heresy novellas.

I also thought this order might serve as an opportunity to jump right into the action with many fast paced, self contained stories across different Legions and Chapters; rather than the other common recommendation of beginning by examining the Imperium and Inquisition’s functional architecture with Eisenhorn and Ravenor.

Phase 3 and 4 are self explanatory.

WHY THE GUIDE STARTS WHERE IT DOES:

I kick off the list with Valdor: Birth of the Imperium as it acts as a narrative ground zero, taking place at the very end of the Unification Wars on Terra (Earth). Amongst other things, it covers the inception of the Adeptus Custodes, the secret origin of the Primarch project, and like the title suggests, the creation of the Imperium.

Second, we hand the baton to Sigismund: The Eternal Crusader, specifically so the reader gets a later description of Terra through Sigismund's telling of his upbringing, and a view of what was the zenith of the Legions, at the end of the Great Crusade. It also examines what makes the ideal Space Marine and explains the origins of the Templars. Furthermore, by immediately following up with Helsreach and seeing Grimaldus carrying on Sigismund's legacy 10,000 years later, the reader gets the early benefit of grasping the devastating contrast between 30K hope and 40K zealotry.

________________________________________
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🔴IF YOU WANT TO READ THE HORUS HERESY FIRST

but still want to use the reading guide, simply place Valdor: Birth of the Imperium and Sigismund: The Eternal Crusader before Horus Rising [HH B1] in Phase 2 (as a prelude to the tragedy), then flip Phase 1 and Phase 2.

(New readers beware of ‘Heresy fatigue’)

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PHASE 1: SPACE MARINE FACTIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND EARLY CORE 40K + A TRAZYN AND ORIKAN NECRON INTERMISSION:

Greater Narrative Prelude:
Valdor: Birth of the Imperium
Sigismund: The Eternal Crusader

Phase 1 Proper:
Helsreach
Rynn’s World
Storm of Iron

The Chronicles of Uriel Ventris (Arc 1 / Books 1-3):
- Book 1. Nightbringer
- Book 2. Warriors of Ultramar
- Book 3. Dead Sky, Black Sun

Brothers of the Snake
Hive - Warhammer 40,000
Wrath of Iron
Dante

An Intermission for Some Trazyn and Orikan Necron Tales:
The Infinite and the Divine
The Wicked and the Warped

Back to the Imperium:
Space Wolves: Warhammer 40,000 (Original 6 Book Series)
Space Wolves (Newer Trilogy by Chris Wraight)
The Traitor and the Alien
Oaths of Damnation
Carcharodons
Konrad Curze: The Night Haunter
Night Lords

PHASE 2: THE HORUS HERESY 30K MAIN TRAGEDY TRUNK, ESSENTIAL STORYLINES, SIEGE OF TERRA CLIMAX + THE SCOURING:

[OPTIONAL] Short Story Prelude to the Horus Heresy Tragedy:
The Wolf of Ash and Fire
(For Audiobook Listeners, This is Part of Audible’s Eye of Terra Collection, Which is Also Part of the Core Horus Heresy Storylines Section Below)

Main Horus Heresy Tragedy Trunk:
Horus Rising [HH B1]
False Gods [HH B2]
Galaxy in Flames [HH B3]
Flight of the Eisenstein [HH B4]
Fulgrim [HH B5]

Important Heresy Contextual, Supplementary and Bridging Novels:
Dropsite Massacre
Alpharius: Head of the Hydra [Primarchs: HH B14]

Core Horus Heresy Storylines (Chronologically Streamlined):
Legion [HH B7]
Mechanicum [HH B9]
A Thousand Sons [HH B12]
Prospero Burns [HH B15]
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word [Primarchs: HH B5]
The First Heretic [HH B14]
The Outcast Dead [HH B17]
[OPTIONAL] Nemesis [HH B13] (Side-Story About An Attempt to Assassinate Horus)
Know No Fear [HH B19]
Scars [HH B28]
Betrayer [HH B24]
Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia [Primarchs: HH B4]
Angel Exterminatus [HH B23]
Fear to Tread [HH B21]
Garro [HH B42]
Vengeful Spirit [HH B29]
Vulkan Lives [HH B26]
The Unremembered Empire [HH B27]
Deathfire [HH B32]
Pharos [HH B34]
Angels of Caliban [HH B38]
Ruinstorm [HH B46]
Eye of Terra Anthology [HH B35]
Jaghatai Khan: Warhawk of Chogoris [Primarchs: HH B8]
The Path of Heaven [HH B36]
Praetorian of Dorn [HH B39]
Tallarn [HH B45]
Wolfsbane [HH B49]
Titandeath [HH B53]
Old Earth [HH B47]
[OPTIONAL] Born of Flame [HH B50] (Salamanders Anthology)
[OPTIONAL] The Crimson King [HH B44] (For a Closer Look at Magnus’ Story)
The Master of Mankind [HH B41]
Slaves to Darkness [HH B51]
[OPTIONAL] The Burden of Loyalty [HH B48] (Shattered Legions and Perpetual Side-Stories Anthology)
[OPTIONAL] Heralds of the Siege [HH B52] (Pre-Siege Curtain Raiser Anthology)
The Buried Dagger [HH B54]
B54]

The Heresy Climax:
Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy:
- Book 1. The Solar War
- Book 2. The Lost and the Damned
- Book 3. The First Wall
- [OPTIONAL] Sons of the Selenar (Novella)
- Book 4. Saturnine
- [OPTIONAL] Fury of Magnus (Novella)
- Book 5. Mortis
- Book 6. Warhawk
- Book 7. Echoes of Eternity
- [OPTIONAL] Garro: Knight of Grey (Novella)
- Book 8.1. The End and the Death: Volume I
- Book 8.2. The End and the Death: Volume II
- Book 8.3. The End and the Death: Volume III

Era of Ruin (A Siege of Terra Aftermath Anthology)

The Horus Heresy: The Scouring:
- Book 1. Ashes of the Imperium

PHASE 3: RETURN TO 40K - WIDER IMPERIUM, FACTION AND GALACTIC LORE:

Eisenhorn (Books 1-3):
- Book 1. Xenos
- Book 2. Malleus
- Book 3. Hereticus

Ravenor

Eisenhorn (Book 4):
- Book 4. The Magos

Bequin

The Chronicles of Uriel Ventris (Arc 2 / Books 4-6):
- Book 4. The Killing Ground
- Book 5. Courage and Honour
- Book 6. Uriel Ventris: The Chapter’s Due

Gaunt Ghosts

An Intermission for Some More Necron Tales:
[OPTIONAL] The World Engine (Novel / eBook Only)
[OPTIONAL] Severed (Novella / eBook Only)
The Twice-Dead King: Ruin
The Twice-Dead King: Reign

Back to the Imperium:
Ciaphas Cain (Anthology Last)
The Emperor’s Gift
Black Legion
Fabius Bile
Renegades: Lord of Excess
Shroud of Night
Sons of the Hydra
Ahriman: Warhammer 40K
Titanicus

A Splicing Spark of AdMech and Genestealer Cults:
Forge of Mars
Dominion Genesis
[OPTIONAL] Day of Ascension (I Highly Recommend this Genestealer Cults Novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky)

Back to the Imperium:
Dead Men Walking
Krieg
Siege of Vraks
Cadian Blood
Deathworlder
Death of Integrity
Knights of Macragge
Spear of the Emperor
Space Marine Conquests
Pandorax
Blades of Damocles

A Touch of T’au:
Farsight

Back to the Imperium:
Deathwatch (Novel / eBook Only - Can be Skipped by Audiobook Listeners)
Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker (Just Titled ‘Shadowbreaker’ on Audible)
Kingsblade
Assassinorum: Kingmaker
Blackstone Fortress
Morvenn Vahl: Spear of Faith

An Ork Palate Cleanser (If Such a Thing is Possible):
Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet Waaagh!

PHASE 4: THE MODERN ERA - INDOMITUS, ORKS AND THE 42ND MILLENNIUM:

Vaults of Terra
Watches of the Throne
The Fall of Cadia
[OPTIONAL] Cypher: Lord of the Fallen (A Covert Imperial Palace Novella)
Dawn of Fire
Indomitus

Another Detour Into Ork Hijinks:
Brutal Kunnin’
Warboss
Da Big Dakka

Back to the Imperium:
Dark Imperium
The Lords of Silence
Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work
Genefather
Belisarius Cawl: Archmagos
Darkness in the Blood
The Lion: Son of the Forest
Lazarus: Enmity’s Edge

Basically I want the religions to feel messy and organic doctrines that contradict each other, gods getting merged together over time, schisms, mystery cults, etc that sort of thing but I want them to be absent from every day life so there can be dozens of religious movements within the setting instead of just different flavors polytheism (because what can you do really when the gods are objectively real?).

bonus point if the series has also political intriguey aspects basically asoiaf but more fleshed out in the religion department

hi all. looking for some fantasy book recommendations. I don't want to read grimdark though. books and authors I've really enjoyed lately: Garth Nix - love the Old Kingdom series, but I also just finished The Left Handed Booksellers of London and the sequel and they were excellent. I love the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. I enjoyed books by Vivian Shaw and Freya Marske. I like Jonathan Stroud, though not the more horrory books. Love Discworld, of course. A bit of a mixed bag, I know :P Ideally standalone books, or shorter series, I don't want to commit to a dozen books.