Favorite Fantasy Book Series

[JD]

I just started a new attempt to read the Lord of the Rings books, after two failed attempts back when I was in school, and when I was done I was planning on checking out some other fantasy series. So I was just wondering what people on here's favorite fantasy book series are? I want to keep this to just epic fantasy, so no modern/urban stuff.

 

[theenglish]

I'm reading the Witcher series with just the final book of the main story left to go. It is really enjoyable, and reminds me of a D&D campaign in a good way. Easy to read with great characters.

Normally I'd recommend the Ice and Fire series, but at this point we may never get the final volumes--but it is a great world with an intricate and complex story. If you've seen the HBO series, that is like watching soccer game highlights of the novels.

To be honest, I've never really found much high fantasy fiction that holds up to Tolkien for me. I'm sure there are others out there who have much better recommendations.

 

[USS Firefly]

The Witcher books are very good, especially the main storyline.
I also like "Magician" books by Raymond Feist.

 

[Thestral]

I'd say The Wheel of Time has topped Lord of the Rings for me now.

Maybe one day I'll get around to reading the Song of Ice and Fire books; I like the world-building a lot but I've never felt compelled to actually read the novels.

 

[Set Harth]

I also like "Magician" books by Raymond Feist.

 

[JD]

The Witcher books are very good, especially the main storyline.
I also like "Magician" books by Raymond Feist.

I got the e-book of the first Witcher book after play the third game and watching the first season of the show, but I haven't read it yet.
I'm aware of the Riftwar books, and it's definitely one I plan on reading eventually.

I'd say The Wheel of Time has topped Lord of the Rings for me now.

I read the first one just before the show started, and I thought it was pretty good. My main issue with it was that it felt it kind of got dragged out with the characters going off on little side quests, the use a video game term, that didn't really seem to have anything to do with the main story of the book. This might have been more of a me issue though, because I think I was reading it at a time when I read a whole stack of books, and it took me forever tor read it. I've been thinking about giving it another go now that I've cut back to just one book at a time. I think it was the book that actually inspired me to cut back to just one book at a time, when I looked on Goodreads and saw that it took me 6.5 months to read it.

Maybe one day I'll get around to reading the Song of Ice and Fire books; I like the world-building a lot but I've never felt compelled to actually read the novels.

I really enjoyed Game of Thrones when I read it around the time the show started, but I got distracted part way through the second book, and never got back to it.

 

[Owain Taggart]

The Dagger and Coin series by Daniel Abraham is quite good, and focuses more on how the flow of money can influence the tides of war. I think this makes it feel unique in terms of perspective.

 

[Oddish]

Still a proud Potterhead after all these years.

 

[JD]

Harry Potter is modern fantasy, I was only looking for epic fantasy.

The Dagger and Coin series by Daniel Abraham is quite good, and focuses more on how the flow of money can influence the tides of war. I think this makes it feel unique in terms of perspective.

I've never heard of that series.

 

[The Realist]

I've never been able to get into epic fantasy. Even Tolkien leaves me cold. The only exception I've encountered is the Berserk manga, which is brilliant (but now never to be properly completed since the death of its creator). Dark, violent, compelling stuff.

 

[JD]

I've heard good things about Beserk, but never read the manga or seen the anime.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Harry Potter is modern fantasy, I was only looking for epic fantasy.

I've never heard of that series.

Not all that surprising since it's a bit lower key, but it's written by one of the co-authors of the Expanse series. When I bought the first book of the Expanse for my Kindle a few years ago, I didn't realize it had also included the first of the Dagger & Coin series, ie The Dragon's Path, and I surprisingly enjoyed that one more than the Expanse. There are currently 5 books in the series and I've only read up to the second one. I should get back to it. Abraham's also been a protege of GRR Martin, so there might be some similarities, but it's the focus on the economy that really keeps things fresh.

 

[Thestral]

I read the first one just before the show started, and I thought it was pretty good. My main issue with it was that it felt it kind of got dragged out with the characters going off on little side quests, the use a video game term, that didn't really seem to have anything to do with the main story of the book. This might have been more of a me issue though, because I think I was reading it at a time when I read a whole stack of books, and it took me forever tor read it. I've been thinking about giving it another go now that I've cut back to just one book at a time. I think it was the book that actually inspired me to cut back to just one book at a time, when I looked on Goodreads and saw that it took me 6.5 months to read it.

Jordan loved his world-building and world-exploring. Whether that's a bug or a feature is probably down to personal preference, and there's definitely a stretch in the middle of the series where it sags under its own weight (including one plot line that sadly includes a few of my favorite characters), but overall I really like it. The cast of characters is rather... a lot.

I dropped the show after one episode and don't plan to go back, although I've been keeping tabs on it. Sadly they've already totally ignored one of my favorite scenes from the early books.

 

[Unicron]

You might consider checking out the Nevernight Chronicle trilogy, as I've enjoyed having my Mia Corvere avatar for ages and am somewhat reluctant to change it. Also lazy. But I've also recommended it to some friends who have enjoyed series like Game of Thrones, as there are some basic similarities between them. Nevernight is a bit shorter to read though.

 

[JD]

That sounds pretty cool, it's definitely going on my list.

Not all that surprising since it's a bit lower key, but it's written by one of the co-authors of the Expanse series. When I bought the first book of the Expanse for my Kindle a few years ago, I didn't realize it had also included the first of the Dagger & Coin series, ie The Dragon's Path, and I surprisingly enjoyed that one more than the Expanse. There are currently 5 books in the series and I've only read up to the second one. I should get back to it. Abraham's also been a protege of GRR Martin, so there might be some similarities, but it's the focus on the economy that really keeps things fresh.

I added The Dragon's Path too.
Anybody here read The Stormlight Archive, Shades of Magic, Seven Kennings, The Green Rider, or Malazon: Book of the Fallen? I've picked up at least one book of each of the series either super cheap or free, but haven't gotten around to reading any of them yet.
For a while Tor books was doing weekly free e-books, so between that and stumbling across e-books marked down to only a dollor or two, I've gotten a ton of e-books that I haven't read yet.

 

[Unicron]

I will say I consider Nevernight to be a bit of an acquired taste in ways, in that it's definitely geared for adult readers and isn't a YA type series. There's a fair amount of sex and violence, but the more dystopian elements are balanced by some good snarky humor which keeps it from being too dark. The trilogy has generally received very good reviews, and it's a modern series I personally enjoy a lot. Not everyone's cup of tea, but worth a shot to see if you like it.

Honestly, it's a pretty interesting world, and I feel like it covers a lot of the classic fantasy elements without feeling too derivative. And it doesn't hurt that Jay Kristoff, who is Australian, uses a lot of British cussing in the series.