Need a suggestion on some fantasy novels for a beginner? I’m having trouble getting into Robert Jordan
Can anyone give me a suggestion on some fantasy novels for a beginner? (For me) My husband is obsessed with more advanced fantasy novels (very large ones) and his books on tape but I can’t get into them yet! TIA! (I’m having trouble getting into Robert Jordan) maybe it’s not good for a beginner.
Try the Earthsea books by Ursula LeGuin. They are YA so not as long ?
Absolutely! I reread this series every year or listen to it on audio. A perfect introduction to fantasy by an amazing writer. Don’t miss the continuation of the first 3 books. #4 is Tehanu, #5 is a novella called Dragonfly. #6 (my favorite) is The Other Wind.
Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld is an astonishing feat of the imagination: a flat world floating through space on 4 elephants resting on a giant turtle and peopled with some of the most fascinating characters you can come across. The plots of most of his 41 novels are quite enjoyable, the language impressive and the wit uproarious. You might also notice several parallels to the goings-on in a planet more familiar to us. His Bromeliad Trilogy is also worth a read.
This one is very interesting and definitely unique. Ive not read another like it.
Awakening: The Prophecy Tales
https://g.co/kgs/nJwXcf
Michael Sullivan’s Age of Myth is really accessible and nothing too deep. It’s part of his Legends of the First Empire Series.
I really enjoyed this one … I think you would too. I can’t wait for her second book. Roliath: The Eidelon Series https://g.co/kgs/5UzDCg
Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. Great introduction to the genre in general.
This one is interesting.but I’ve not finished it because life and babies happen lol. But is quite lengthy. The Great Book of Amber: The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10 https://g.co/kgs/XAiajH
Darker Shade of Magic Series by VE Schwab! So good and it is a short, complete series.
And I also really enjoy Theodora Goss’ short stories. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1907881182/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1512134635&sr=8-4
high fantasy? Best moderate fantasy for me would be Sarah J. Maas’s two series. YA but not all that young to me.
Absolutely!
And finally, I loved Eragon. So much better than the movie and also so different. It is one of my favorite fantasy tales I especially liked the first 2 books of the series lol. Eragon https://g.co/kgs/tWN617
Sherri S. Tepper. I love her books Gate to Womens Country, Gibbons Rise and Fall (I think). There are many others, her last books are a little hard to get into, but the middle part of her writing career are pretty good.
Neil Gaiman’s Stardust
Was this one turned into a movie?
Yes.
Ending of the book is SOOOO MUUUCH BETTER than the ending of the movie!!
Depends on what you mean by fantasy. Try Hunger Games – I resisted for a couple years, but it was really good
My husband loves Robert Jordan. That’s all I’ve been introduced to so far as far as fantasy goes. Thanks everyone!
Try the Gregory Maguire books they are awesome
Robin Hobb or Lynn Flewelling are both good for a beginner.
Any of Terry Pratchett’s discworld books.
This is one of my favorite authors.
Check out Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13928
David Eddings (start with the Belgariad – and don’t be thrown off by the prologues) and Raymond E. Feist (start with Magician).
These two saved epic fantasy for me 🙂
Skip the prologue altogether. You can go back and read them later… These are a great “gateway drug” into the world of fantasy.
Belgariad launched my fantasy fandom.
The Magicians is good, and I’ve been reading the Dark Tower series which I’m enjoying. The Buried Giant by Ishiguro. Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Graceling by Cashore…
Green Rider, Mistborn, Elantris. Or you could try out lots of ya fantasy to get you used to the genre with easy exciting reading.
Agree. And there are a lot of great ones out there. For a great protagonist, try the Song of the Lioness books by Tamora Pierce (who I see others have mentioned here).
Hitchhiker guide to the galaxy deffo !!
Yes! Very funny!
Patricia Briggs, Alera Codex by Jim Butcher, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch,
Tamora Pierce – mostly ya, but much more approachable than Jordan. Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera books are a good choice as well.
Also, Jordan’s books are not for everyone. My husband has the whole series – some in hardback even! – but he’s admitted that I probably wouldn’t enjoy them as much despite how much I read fantasy.
I generally don’t like fantasy, but I would start with some excellent children’s books, such as the Narnia series, A Wrinkle in Time, Susan Cooper’s Over Sea, Under Stone series, and any of Ursula Le Guinness. Then maybe someone like Alice Hoffman who has elements of magical realism before going full on! And something light, such as Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
Galaxy.
@Kevin you’re right! I was swithering between galaxy and universe and chose wrong!
Hunger Games?
https://www.amazon.com/Uprooted-Naomi-Novik-ebook/dp/B00KUQIU7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512146410&sr=8-1&keywords=uprooted
Yes! Loved this one!
Guaranteed good time! It even has its won playlist! Get the sequel at the same time. You will want to read it immediately. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9463117-hold-me-closer-necromancer
Loved this book!
David Eddings Belgariad, skip the prologue
Have you read Miss Peragines home for children series. I don’t think I spelled peragine right though
Harry Potter. Come on. What better way to start fantasy than beginning a journey with harry potter.
There are a bunch of other books.. The Delver Magic series. The All Things Impossible series. The dawning of the power trilogy, by Brian Rathbone.
The Mistborn series. Although there were a lot of good books recommended I don’t necessarily think you could call them true fantasies, or maybe you could, genres seems to be pretty elastic. I don’t read what I would consider fantasies but this series was highly recommended and I did enjoy it. Brandon Sanderson is the author.
I just added this to my to read list.
Im not generally a fantasy reader and i loved The Neverending Story.
Wicked Lovely series
Long ago I read Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. I’d like to go back and retread them.
The Pern series is great. Read Dragonflight in 8th grade when it first came out and kept reading them for the next 20 years or so.
The Mists of Avalon! Yes, it looks “thick” but it’s quite a breezy read and so, so good! A re-imagining of the Arthur legend from the women’s perspective. Fantastic!
I agree with Evelyn. Mists of Avalon! My granddaughter recommended it and I loved it! I usually stick to mysteries, thrillers, spy novels.
I really recommend Mary Stewart’s Merlin books starting with The Crystal Cave. Really lovely.
Jack Vance’s Lyonesse trilogy is a beautiful read
Mistborn series, The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, The name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
I am not a big fantasy fan, but I absolutely love Laini Taylor.
You might like her “Daughter of Smoke & Bone” trilogy with starts with, (you guessed it) “Daughter of Smoke & Bone”
Book 1 of a new trilogy was published a few months ago. It was stunning (IMHO), “Strange the Dreamer”
Maybe try starting with children fantasy novels like Peter Pan and The Chronicles of Narnia. Harry Potter Series and also Percy Jackson and The Olympian Series might be a good start too.
A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale?ac=1&from_search=true
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77353.The_Book_of_Atrix_Wolfe?ac=1&from_search=true
Anne McCaffery. If you like dragons and a whole new world ?
Yes, definitely! The Dragonrider books are some of the best fantasy books ever.
Gateway to Fourline by Pam Brondos
Graceling by Kristen Cashore was a pleasure to read. It might be considered YA, but i really enjoyed it.
LOVED The Graceling trilogy!!!!!!!!
The never-ending story, Narnia, enders game…
Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time.
So good! Even as a Re-read.
Kushiels dart Jacqueline carey
Diane Duane’s ‘So You Want To Be A Wizard’ series.
https://www.amazon.com/Want-Wizard-Young-Wizards-Book-ebook/dp/B003WJQ7G2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512194769&sr=8-1&keywords=so+you+want+to+be+a+wizard
Such a great list of suggestions! I have read and loved so many of these titles, but I hope you will consider reading The Hobbit first of all.
Definitely do not start with Robert Jordon. My suggestion is the Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher. They are urban fantasy as opposed to epic fantasy and more accessible for the casual or beginning fantasy reader.
Assassins apprentice by robin hobb
Trudi Canavan, Melissa Marr, Cassandra Clare. Some of my go to’s.
Aragon and The lion, the witch and the wardrobe
“Dreamsnake” by Vonda McIntyre
Another idea is to start with a book with magical realism as a gateway to fantasy— something like Midnights Children by Rushdie, maybe
The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Technically a kids book, but it’s very good & definitely doesn’t read like a children’s book. Just won the Newbery Medal for 2017 also.
Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff or Witch and Wombat by Carolyn Cushman. Both are light and funny. Magic Kingdom for Sale by Terry Brooks is the first of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Outlander.
Chronicles of St Mary’s by Jodi Taylor, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, any Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Graham Joyce.
I love the St Mary’s chronicles.
Terry Pratchett makes me laugh out loud and reread a passage because it is so wonderful.
Stardust or Neverwhere