Over the past year I've really delved into horror and tried different types and found out what I've liked and what I haven't. I feel like this is harder to do with fantasy… This is long so I apologize…
I thought I'd really love romantasy because I like fantasy and I like romance. Nope. Huge disappointment every single time.
I thought maybe epic fantasy because I love LOTR. Haven't found one that gives me the same feeling but maybe that's just too high of a bar to set.
Probably the type that I've gotten the most luck with is Asian inspired fantasies like the Book of Tea duology was great, The Poppy War was good, Daughter of the Moon Goddess was okay. I also really enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes, but not the second book. Her Radiant Curse was good too.
I have tried some pretty big name fantasy authors and nothing is really hitting for me… Babel fell flat for me, the writing style of The Fifth Season was not my jam…Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was good but still just a high 3 star. City of Brass didn't work for me either…
Bloodsworn saga? Why the hell is everything compared to piss and shit and blood? Can't we get across the description in a different way? Everyone grimaces too. Can we not make other facial expressions? I'm just putting this off on writing style because I was interested in the story at first, especially about the mother searching for her kid, but that's about it.
Robin Hobb? Meh. Assassin's Apprentice was fine but it didn't really grab me enough to continue. I can't really explain why.
First Law series? First book was okay but it completely lost me in the second. I just no longer cared about the characters.
What do I like? I love characters… I want really fleshed out characters that I can fall in love with. I want relationships and decisions that make some friggin sense! I want an interesting world and magic system.
Favorites: LOTR, Harry Potter, A Magic Steeped in Poison, Sorcery of Thorns, The Bear and the Nightingale (really just the first book). And I compare things I like and think, hm…maybe I should read younger, but no…other stuff doesn't work for me and these are sort of exceptions but they're 5 star exceptions. Sorcery of Thorns is romantasy but it's so interesting with dark academia vibes plus the demon side character that I love. A Magic Steeped in Poison had the high stakes and really interesting Magic system but also this mysterious backstory that really enhanced the main character. The Bear and the Nightgale had just the right amount of folktale prose, slightly dark and mysterious, but deep character development.
Anyone who has read this far and is willing to help me, I truly appreciate it! I haven't read Brandon Sanderson…just not sure how that would work for me. And I'm nervous about trying Wheel of Time too so I'm hoping someone can help point me in the right direction or maybe point out something I have to thought of yet.
by Imagination_Priory89
3 Comments
Give Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao a try. It’s a reimagining of China’s only female emperor Wu Zetian. Pacific Rim by way of Handmaid’s Tale á la wuxia drama.
I would throw out my usual two recommendations:
* Terry Pratchett with “Guards, Guards!” and the following Nightwatch books. There will be enough purists who say Discworld novels are “not actually Fantasy” because of the humor and social commentary, but one can toss those voices aside and still enjoy amazing fantasy, written second to none
* Ivan Ertlov with “Dwarven Steel & Dragon Fire” (there is a prequel novela “Halbar of Malan” one should read first) and the sequels in the series. It is a unique twist on fantasy, with some progressive, borderline communist, propaganda – but an amazing read
I will let you know that if you like LOTR then at bare minimum you’ll enjoy the craft of Eye of the World, the first book of the Wheel of Time. It’s difficult to explain, as virtually no scene in it plays out exactly like Fellowship of the Ring, but there’s just a…vibe that makes things feel similar. Highly recommend, but I understand the intimidation so feel free to put it towards the end of any possible TBR.
Have you tried the Mask of Mirrors by MA Carrick? It’s the first book in the Rook and Rose Trilogy. MC is a former street urchin that’s trying to run a con on a noble family to earn cash for her and her adoptive sister. She was a maid for the family’s estranged members and uses the gossip she heard from her former lady and magic makeup to present as said member’s daughter. She gets re-acquainted with her city and meets the local Zorro, a crime boss and a cop with a stick up his ass and her con gets… complicated.