Favorite medieval fantasy? I have a student who is begging for more!
Favorite medieval fantasy? I have a student who is begging for more!!
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Depending on age, the Assassins Creed books are good. But not appropriate for younger kids.
The hero and the crown by robin McKinley
Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword.
Rangers Apprentice
Anything by Lloyd Alexander
The gormanghast trilogy
Age of student? I got a fair amount but want to make sure I go the right direction
Mists of Avalon
Excellent. Magical book.
David Eddings The Belgaridad series but not for young children
I rarely find someone who has read David Eddings. Glad to see I am not alone!
Excellent series! I don’t meet many people who have read it
I came here to suggest the Belgariad too. I love David Eddings.
@Stephanie Every book of his I could read. Loved all of his books. And then after the Belgariad, there’s The Mallorean.
@Karen You are not! More to the point WE are not alone!
And I really enjoyed his Elder Gods and Younger Gods series…light, amusing reads!
Loved the Belgariad and the Mallorean series, then I went and also read the two standalone (sort of) books Polgara and Belgarath.
The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte,
You beat me to it.
Don Rodriguez by lord dunsany! I loved it.
And
The road to Avalon
Earthsea books by Ursula K LeGuin
Beowulf.
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
Hubby says Dragon Lance series
Dragonlance
Omg I read almost all of those when I was in junior high. I was addicted!!
All of Shakespeare….. A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Horses Mouth, McBeth. There are so many.
The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley and the Graceling series by Kristin Cashore
Her Beauty is my favorite take on Beauty and the beast.
Age of student?
He’s 16
Beyonders by Brandon mull, although it may be on the younger range
@Carrie The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
@Jessica thank you!
The Ranger’s Apprentice, by John Flanagan. Not a lot of elements of fantasy but a medieval setting with great adventure.
The Mists of Avalon
Ella Enchanted! Lord of the Rings, of course if the student is older.
Anything by Juliet Marillier. Particularly Daughter of the Forest. Pre-medieval but wonderful stories. Have recommended to both kids and adults.
Mary Stewart’s Books about King Arthur.
The Crystal Cave! great book – first in a 3 book series mostly about Merlin.
They are called the Merlin trilogy: Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills and the last Enchantment. Great suggestion a great retelling of the myth with a plosible version of “magic”.
Elizabeth Moons The Deed of Paksennarion
Agreed! These are fun.
I have a wonderful children’s librarian who has helped me find obscure series for my voracious reader. Use your public library!
Princess bride…. not sure if this fits but it is great!!
I never even thought of that! I bet he would love it!
The Princess Bride is one of my favorites!
Read the book when it first came out. Even sent away for the missing scene!?. My kids loved the book!
Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas
The Bird and The Sword by Amy Harmon
I liked King Arthur and Le Morte d’Arthur.
The Mists of Avalon
My absolute favorite!!
Yup, E P I C
Not sure if it’s really medieval, but I’m really enjoying Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series.
Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon is excellent!!!
Catherine Cushman has several YA readers I loved at that age.
Not medieval but The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. I think there are 12 or 14 books in the series.
My son read the entire series, and I just donated them to the Little Free Library in my hometown. Trying to purge…
@Joyce wish I could purge, but I seem to collect more and more. Just so hard for me to part with books.
It’s hard for me also, and I continue buying them. I have a Kindle but still LOVE books! I have given to children at church and the neighborhood. Oh well, I could have a worse habit that affects my health. I just lose few hours of sleep if I’m engrossed in a book. Life is good.
@Joyce life is definitely good
a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
I was going to suggest this book too!
This may be a given if he likes the genre, but Tolkien, if he hasn’t already read him.
I really enjoy Tamora Pierce books.
Following!
The Ranger’s Apprentice series by (forgetting the first name) Flanagan is very good.
Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives. The first book is called The Way of Kings.
Robin Hobbs books beginning with The Assassin’s Apprentice.
Try one of Mercedes Lackey’s many series of Valdemar. The Last Herald Mage trilogy could be a good one to start with.
The False Prince
At that age, I really like Robert Aspirin’s Myth Adventure series. Super funny characters and situations!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythAdventures
The Once and Future King by T.H. White and A Canticle For Leibowitz. I can’t conjure up the author on that one.
Miller
Mists of Avalon!
The White Mountains by John Cristopher. . .although time seems to shift back and forth! Terrific series.
following
Black Arrow, Robin Hood, Men of Iron. The last two by Howard Pyle.
Checkout Bernard Cornwell too. He has a series on a archer.
Mary Stewart trilogy: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment.
Parke Godwin’s Firelord (Arthurian) series: “Firelord”, “Beloved Exile” and “The Last Rainbow”. I also recommend “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White, and also about King Arthur.
Mary Stewart’s books about Merlin and King Arthur. The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Wicked Day and The Last Enchantment.
Stephen R. Lashes wrote a Robin Hood series that were excellent. Hood, Scarlet and Tuck.
Eragon series.
Not sure if this qualifies, but Doomsday Book?
Game of Thrones ( if age appropriate)
The Harper Hall of Pern by Anne Mccaffrey
Love Anne McCaffrey
Loved all the Pern books
Its starts with dragon song. But should start with the 1st book Dragonflight.
Depends on the reader. Dragonsong and the Harper Hall trilogy are written more for young adult readers. I needed that introduction when I was young. Then I was invested enough to read Dragonflight, etc.
The Once and Future King by T. H. White
Bernard Cornwell writes historical novels based upon real history with characters that are put into the action, his battle descriptions and his knowledge of the workings of the military is beyond reproach. I talked to a college history prof who uses his description of the battle of Waterloo in class as it is so accurate and exciting. He has a lot of these set in the medieval period – King Author as a true 5th Century Warlord – Warlord Chronicles, The Grail Quest Series about an archer in the English army during the French wars and ultimately leads to the battle of Agincore (sp ???). He has books set in the Saxon period of Alfred the Great, American Civil war and the one he is most famous for is the Sharpe series of the Napoleonic wars. Put the kid onto Cornwell and he has years of good reading ahead of him.
I’ve got a few Cornwell books I picked up second hand. I haven’t read them yet, but this makes me want to.
It’s Tudor era, but Nonsuch Lure by Mary Luke has reincarnation as its main theme. Its about King Henry XIII and the dissolution of the monasteries.
Pillars of the Earth series by Follett…
I love Pillars but not sure if it’s appropriate for a 16 yr old (although I think I read it when I was about that age?)
The Kingkiller Chronicles by Pat Rutherford. They are amazing! Better than Game of Thrones and appropriate for HS students.
Or the Gentleman Bastards series by Scott Lynch.
I am currently waiting for the third book on both of these series to be released.
Or, for all-age readers check out the Redwall series. These stories are excellent!
I loved the Deverry Cycle by Katharine Kerr.
Mary Stewart
anything by Tamora @Pierce
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen!!
The Crystal Cave
Le Mort d’Arthur
Chaucer
Beowulf
Grendel
Bring Down Heaven Series by Sam Sykes; Fafhrd and Gray Mouser series by Fritz Leiber; The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan.
Eragon
He might enjoy The Dark Tower series. He won’t run out of material anytime soon!
The Chronicles of Prydain have always been a favorite of mine – ready them more than any other. https://www.vox.com/2015/8/18/9166631/chronicles-prydain-alexander
The Belgariad and Malloreon series by David and Leigh Eddings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belgariad
Mary Stewart’s Merlin series, if it’s not too advanced for your student.
The Chronicles of Pyrdain.
Catherine Called Birdy.
Terry Brooks’ The Lost Years of Merlin.
Anything by Tamora Pierce, especially the Tortall books.
Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
Oh my! You brought to memory the Crystal Cave and the Hollow Hills! I loved those.
Me, too.
The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flannigan, Anything by Tamora Pierce
Also, The Door in the Wall.
And even though they are not set in medieval times, The Dark is Rising series as they deal with Arthurian lore.
And the Dalemark series by Diana Wynne Jones.
The Once and Future King and Mists of Avalon if they enjoy Arthurian legends
The Merlin/King Aurthur series by Mary Stewart. The Crystal Cave is the first in a series of 5 books.
Tamora Pierce has tons of books available and according to Amazon there is a new series that just started in January.
The Princess Bride
Lists of Avalon
Mists of Avalon
“Outlander” may satisfy their itch. It’s been awhile since I read it, so check on the appropriateness of the adult relationships. The TV series really played those up compared to the story, as I remember.
It’s a little rape-y for a 16 yo imho
Definitely adult material!
@Tolley Sorry, it’s been a few years since I read it.
I had to stop watching the show, it was too rape-y for me and I loved Sons of Anarchy so that is saying something Figured the book has to be as bad or worse.
From what I remember of the book, it was actually much more innocent than the TV series, which was presented as all about sex.
Timeline by Michael Chrichton
The “Brother Cadfael” series or anything by Candace Robb.
Cast of Stones
Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study
Yay, finally someone else who’s read those books
@Tanya I’m the only person I know who has read them! It’s cool that you also know them!
GoT ?
The Once and Future King by T. H. White. Arthurian legend. “Camelot” was based on the book as well as Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone”.
Anything Arthurian and Robin Hood
Mary Stewart Merlin Cronicles starting with the crystal cave then The Hillow Hills then last enchantment. Finish with the story of mordted called the wicked day.
Best arthurian take EVER.
Then an alternative analogue NOT Arthur but similar culture with a race that does magic Katherine Kurtz Deryini books starting with Deryni Rising.
Karina Guenther , lovedthem. I have not read The Wicked day. Will do so ASAP. Mordred is a complex character.
Karina Guenther I just put The Wicked Day on library wish list. Mordred is fascinating, like the doom you know is lurking and unavoidable. I have to reread The Winds of War and War and Rememberance before I start any thing else. Read on!
GOT. DEFINITELY!
Tag
After Cilmeri series by Sarah Woodbury. Time travel to medieval Wales. Sooooo good!!
Merlin series by T.A. Barron.
Have you read Mary Stewart take?
Yes! I have, they are also great!
Thank y’all so much
When Christ and his saints slept by penman
Wheel of Time!!!
Piers Anthony Xanth series. A spell for chameleon is the first in the series. I believe it’s age appropriate.
The early books in the series were better than the later ones, IMO. Very “punny”
Riftwar saga is unreal
this
Tamora Pierce 🙂
What was that movie with michelle phiffer and mathew broderick it was medeval story?
Ladyhawke?
@Kellie Yes Thank you Was it a book first I wonder?
@Yvette a movie novelization came out. It flashes out the people a bit.
Anything by Bernard Cornwall
How historical are we talking here? Like “The Hound and the Falcon” series (in which a fairy foundling becomes a pious monk) by Judith Tarr or high fantasy secondary world stuff like Chronicles of Thomas Covenant?
Isle of Glass, Golden Horn and Hounds of God are some of my favorite medieval alternate-history fantasy tales. “Ars Magica,” also by Tarr, is a pretty good take on an old medieval slander about a reluctant Pope who’s secretly a sorceror (it turns the slander on its head and presents Pope Sylvester as a good guy, which I feel historically he was. But in real life that was because he was well-educated, not because he had a magical talking bronze head.)
The Mists of Avalon is fantastic!
Umm not sure if it’s age appropriate- you didn’t say what grade the student was.
@Lynda he’s a junior in high school
@Carrie he may not like it- it’s the King Arthur legend told by and from a woman’s viewpoint
Maybe that’s a good thing for a teenage boy to read then!
@Carrie I think “The Once and Future King” might be a more appropriate choice. It’s exciting and has a lot of humor. It also poses many moral and philosophical issues that will make him think and return to the book again. It is at times a whimsical interpretation of the Arthurian legend, but overall a grand sweeping book that one will believe or at least wish, even through the tragedy, was true. I guess you can tell it is one of my favorite books and eras.
@Lynda well, we will try it anyway! Thank you so much.
@Shirley yes!! Thank you!
@Carrie I have The Once and Future King as well- it’s a great idea!
Katherine Kurtz Deryni novels.
Mary Stewart Merlin Cronicles. Best king Arthur books I’ve ever read.
For more Sci fi rather fantasy
Eric Flint 1632 ring of fire series. Take modern town transport it to 1632 Germany.
The Witcher. Dragons, elf’s, and sword battles
Mercedes Lackey 500 kingdoms and elemental masters series. Her valdemar ones starting with Arrows of the queen but depending on how young might want to star clear of The Herald Mage ones
Following. My 10 year old is looking for similar books, with a Dungeons and Dragons flavor.
Best dragons that are friendly is Anne McCaffrey Pern books
Andre Norton witch world books. I think he’d love the Jargoon Pard.
Prydain Cronicles by LLOYD Alexander.
@Karina the Dragon Singer trilogy is geared more to teens. I would start there.
If he likes harry potter Diane Duanes Wizard series starting with So You want to be a Wizard .
Karina Guenther, he read Prydain and loved them
Karina Guenther, I’ve been trying to get him to read Anne McCaffrey, maybe an independent recommendation will help!
Piers Anthony Xanth books starting with a Spell for Cameleon. They get a bit punny.
@Elizabeth like I said, the Dragon Singer trilogy, but maybe starting with the last book. Dragon Drums is more about a boy coming of age while the first 2 books dealt with a girl finding her place in her world.
Definitely Wee Free Men and The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett to start off, but save the rest of the Tiffany Aching stuff for young adulthood.
@Roberta, that’s a great tip, thanks! My 12yo doesn’t care boy or girl, but my 10yo son prefers boys and my 7yo daughter prefers girls. It’s so much easier to find books for my oldest!
@Arpie, I’ll give him Maurice, I haven’t read that one. We listened to Wee Free Men in the car and they all liked it.
Catherine called birdy
Andre Norton witch world books. Theres a lot of them and many are stand alone. She was my favorite as a teen.
Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
Not sure it qualifies but Silverlock was hecka fun.
The Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss, and anything by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Eragon and the rest of that series
Lord of the Rings? Too far from European medieval, maybe? Depending in the student’s age, maybe Pillars of the Earth, which is excellent without the fantasy (it does have religion, which may count as fantasy for the student). I loved the Mary Stewart books, too, as a teen or preteen. Mists of Avalon is good for older kids. Oh, “Dragonworld” is an oldie but goodie. Some of those Rick Riordan books, for kids (the Magnus Chase series, set with Norse gods). And the “Sword of Shannara”? Can’t remember if I liked those so much— been too long.
Jim, I, too, recommend Pillars. Such a good — and interesting — read.
Queen of the Tearling. Its technically set in the future, but there’s horses and knights and magic castles and such. And a line about an ancient author named Rowling who wrote about wizards
Katherine Kurtz Deryni series
Once and future king
Beowulf
These aren’t what you asked for, but reading the suggestions I think these fit in nicely. The His Dark Materials trilogy is amazing fantasy. Watership Down is great with the interplay and strategies. Kidnapped! stands the test of time. And then obvi TLOTR
Medieval Historical Fiction: Mistress of the Art of Death and the Hangman’s Daughter. (Both awesome.)
A junior in high school would probably like the Game of Thrones series too.
The Mists of Avalon, the King Arthur legend told from the viewpoint of the women.
The False Prince trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen.
Sword of Truth series
They are older books but take a look at The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart and The Dragon Riders books by Ann McCaffrey.
The High Crusade by Poul Anderson. Technically it’s science-fiction but the setting is England, 1345. It deals with how a group of knights thwart an alien invasion.
Alanna by Tamora Pierce
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.
The Belgariad and Melorian series’ by David Eddings. Pern series by Anne McCaffry, Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Give James Rollins a try; he writes thrillers, a bit like modern Indian Jones, that slight edge that moves science to the edge of science fiction. No sex scenes, so it should be fine for 14+ depending on their comprehension level.
Timeline Michael Crichton
Rangers Apprentice series
Love The Ranger’s Apprentice
Check out Crispin series by Avi – my son read this in MS!
Now this is a comedy, but the last in the Mouse That Roared series is about the beginnings of the Duchy of Fenwick. I think the whole series would be a good read, even if the first 2 books deal with the cold war and the space race that he may not understand.
They are coming back again, with an armed space race
The Once and Future King by T.H. White.
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain.
Mary Stewart: The Crystal Cave et al. She is incomparable at making you step right into her story. This is a 4 book series about Merlin/Arthurian legend
Tamora Pierce books!!!!
LOVE Tamora Pierce!
All the Sharon Kay Penman books especially those about Wales
Love & Ruin
Try Malik’s Outworldersbooks. Dragons Trail and The New Magic are available. Great world building , sword fighting and Magic!
Mistress in the art of death by Ariana Franklin