Hello everyone,
I just finished reading the main story of The Witcher series. It's by far the best epic I've ever read I absolutely loved it. Nothing has made me feel this way since I read The Dark Tower 6 years prior and I never thought I'd find something that would dethrone it from #1 for me until I read The Witcher. I can still read the two prequel/side story books that came after The Lady of The Lake but I'm trying to think about what I can dive into after.
What I loved most wasn’t just the plot or the world building It was:
- The systematic dismantling of romantic heroism and the preconceived notions of Geralt
- The stripping away of the illusion of destiny, neutrality, moral superiority and prophecy
- A protagonist who is exposed psychologically instead of glorified
- A found family (the hansa) that feels earned and then brutally real in its cost (which is also what I loved about The Dark Tower and the Ka-Tet)
- Sharp, poetic commentary, thanks to Dandelion, that cuts through ego and myth
- The way the monsters slowly became human systems through bureaucracy, empire and mob hatred
- The meta layer about history being rewritten, censored and distorted
- The refusal to give clean closure while still delivering emotional satisfaction
- The blending of intimate character work with large philosophical questions
So anything that checks off most of those would be appreciated but I'm really open to anything I can get lost in for a few months. Thank you in advance!
EDIT: I'd prefer something that is finished, so A Song of Fire and Ice wouldn't cut it for example. Also doesn't have to be fantasy!
by CallMePaulB