Might make a difference if you mention how old the person is or what genres and authors they usually read. In general, I’d recommend the following mix as a good starting point. They cover a variety of types of fantasy sub-genres.
A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. Le Guin MYTHAGO WOOD by Robert Holdstock Elric stories by Michael Moorcock LEGEND by David Gemmell THE WAR OF THE OAKS by Emma Bull THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER by Roger Zelazny MAGICIAN by Raymond E. Feist THE SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman THE BOOK OF JHERG by Steven Brust Dark Elf trilogy by R. A. Salvatore Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb TIGANA and UNDER HEAVEN by Guy Gavriel Kay PERDIDO STREET STATION by China Mieville Conan, Solomon Kane, Kull the Conqueror, and Bran Mak Morn stories by Robert E. Howard Tiger and Del novels by Jennifer Roberson
@Nirvan thank you! It’s my niece who is 21. She reads a good bit of YA, but has also read and enjoyed the Hobbit and several Stephen King books so adult is an option as well. I believe she’s looking for either age group really.
If she’s twenty-one, then it’s all good. Nothing I’ve listed is YA, so that should get her out of that zone for a bit. Some of it is juvenile friendly, but most are more adult stories. I would recommend she start with MYTHAGO WOOD or THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER. If she wants something crazy-weird immediately, then PERDIDO STREET STATION, although I think she could save that for later.
I was recommended A Court of Thorns and Roses back in August and started reading it. My very first YA book written. I fell in love with the series and the genre and have read a few excellent YA since. I recommend to check it out. YA Fantasy.
@Irene wise mans fear was good. It wasn’t as good as NOTW. Slow regard is quirky and endearing. Well told though and enjoyable. I was trepidatious because of Rothfuss disclaimers. But was glad I had invested the time.
Fantasy I’ve read and enjoyed in the last couple years: Kings dark tidings trilogy Metro 2033 (Russian fantasy… it’s weird and rife with philosophical commentary). Pilgrims Progress All systems red R a Salvatore’s legends of drizzt. Duncan Hamilton wolf of the north trilogy Olan thorenson destinys crucible trilogy (might be a fourth out now) Duncan Hamilton society of the sword trilogy
Artemis – Andy weir Robin Hobb’s early works (20 or so books in total, I LOVED the first 3, after that she lost the plot from my perspective and wrote more about sex with minors, trans species sex, and gay/lesbian sex mostly in the ones about dragons (I forget the name). I don’t want to read about sex and it really put me off the rest of the books. The less time with the wolf the less happy I was).
Davis ashura’s castes and outcasts trilogy (liked this one).
Seems like a good start. If I think of more later I’ll come back.
Brandon Sanderson is my author though. If he wrote a grocery list I’d probably buy and read it. I’ve seldom read books that resonated so deeply.
A Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is my all time favourite closely followed by A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness The Grisha Verse by Leigh Bardugo Penryn and End of Days Trilogy by Susan Ee The Enchantress by James Maxwell The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard They Who Fell by Kevin Kneupper Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Black Dagger Brotherhood by J R Ward The King Trilogy by Mimi J Papiloff Beautiful Creatures It’s my favourite genre and these are are my top reads. Enjoy
Dragonlance.
YES! Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman…read in order.
Also, the Belgariad trilogy, by David Eddings (also read in order)
Throne of Glass
❤️❤️
David Eddings The Belgariad.
Might make a difference if you mention how old the person is or what genres and authors they usually read. In general, I’d recommend the following mix as a good starting point. They cover a variety of types of fantasy sub-genres.
A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. Le Guin
MYTHAGO WOOD by Robert Holdstock
Elric stories by Michael Moorcock
LEGEND by David Gemmell
THE WAR OF THE OAKS by Emma Bull
THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER by Roger Zelazny
MAGICIAN by Raymond E. Feist
THE SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman
THE BOOK OF JHERG by Steven Brust
Dark Elf trilogy by R. A. Salvatore
Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb
TIGANA and UNDER HEAVEN by Guy Gavriel Kay
PERDIDO STREET STATION by China Mieville
Conan, Solomon Kane, Kull the Conqueror, and Bran Mak Morn stories by Robert E. Howard
Tiger and Del novels by Jennifer Roberson
@Nirvan thank you! It’s my niece who is 21. She reads a good bit of YA, but has also read and enjoyed the Hobbit and several Stephen King books so adult is an option as well. I believe she’s looking for either age group really.
If she’s twenty-one, then it’s all good. Nothing I’ve listed is YA, so that should get her out of that zone for a bit. Some of it is juvenile friendly, but most are more adult stories. I would recommend she start with MYTHAGO WOOD or THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER. If she wants something crazy-weird immediately, then PERDIDO STREET STATION, although I think she could save that for later.
@Nirvan Thank you so much! You’ve been so helpful!
I ought to check this out as well! I’m also 21 and read some YA but not the majority of the time.
Redwall series. The Wheel of Time series. Firebringer.
someone just recommended the wheel of time to me yesterday.
Tis a good one!
Mystborn – Brandon Sanderson is my absolute favorite in the genre. After mystborn try his stormlight archives.
@Ken I love the Stormlight Archives! I’ve bought that for her for Christmas, thanks! ?
Saw wheel of time mentioned – Sanderson wrote the last (and best) three in that series after Robert Jordan died.
@Ken agree! It’s a great place to start in fantasy!
I was recommended A Court of Thorns and Roses back in August and started reading it. My very first YA book written. I fell in love with the series and the genre and have read a few excellent YA since. I recommend to check it out. YA Fantasy.
@Jennifer ohh I’ve read that series earlier this year also, it’s wonderful!
The Shatter Me Series
How many are in the series?? I thought it was just a trilogy but I see mafi wrote a few more!
A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Six Of Crows Duology
I should be getting six of crows in the mail from eBay in a few days!!
The first book for me was good but the second was even better, I hope you enjoy them.
Thank you!
Hobbit + Lord of the Rings ?
The Divine series by PC Cast and Elfland by Freda Warrington
The Pellinor Books by Alison Croggon or The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab
Currently reading The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Its very good!
That’s the best of the ones he has written so far. Slow regard for silent things is my second favorite.
I have The Wise Man’s Fear and that one to read next!
@Irene wise mans fear was good. It wasn’t as good as NOTW. Slow regard is quirky and endearing. Well told though and enjoyable. I was trepidatious because of Rothfuss disclaimers. But was glad I had invested the time.
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead!
Brent weeks Black Prism series is good.
Fantasy I’ve read and enjoyed in the last couple years:
Kings dark tidings trilogy
Metro 2033 (Russian fantasy… it’s weird and rife with philosophical commentary).
Pilgrims Progress
All systems red
R a Salvatore’s legends of drizzt.
Duncan Hamilton wolf of the north trilogy
Olan thorenson destinys crucible trilogy (might be a fourth out now)
Duncan Hamilton society of the sword trilogy
Artemis – Andy weir
Robin Hobb’s early works (20 or so books in total, I LOVED the first 3, after that she lost the plot from my perspective and wrote more about sex with minors, trans species sex, and gay/lesbian sex mostly in the ones about dragons (I forget the name). I don’t want to read about sex and it really put me off the rest of the books. The less time with the wolf the less happy I was).
Davis ashura’s castes and outcasts trilogy (liked this one).
Seems like a good start. If I think of more later I’ll come back.
Brandon Sanderson is my author though. If he wrote a grocery list I’d probably buy and read it. I’ve seldom read books that resonated so deeply.
Lord of the Rings
The Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. But he is so good everything else in that genre pales in comparison!
The Red Queen series ?
A Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is my all time favourite closely followed by
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Grisha Verse by Leigh Bardugo
Penryn and End of Days Trilogy by Susan Ee
The Enchantress by James Maxwell
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
They Who Fell by Kevin Kneupper
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J R Ward
The King Trilogy by Mimi J Papiloff
Beautiful Creatures
It’s my favourite genre and these are are my top reads. Enjoy
The Shanara series by Terry Brooks
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, anything from Robin Hobb, Naomi Novik & Katherine Arden, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.
A Darker Shade of Magic, This Savage Song
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. 2 books (long books but awesome)
The Name of the Wind & The Wise Man’s Fear. Highly recommended!
Harry Potter and Percy Jackson
Thank you so much for all of these wonderful suggestions to try out! I’m sure she will fall in love with this genre ?
Symphony of the ages by Elizabeth Hayden
For beginner beginner probably Harry Potter or Percy Jackson
I have a lot on my TBR and y’all just made that list expand by like, ten times ?
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Totally agree!
Harry Potter or the mortal instrument series
The Chronicles of Narnia, A Series of Unfortunate Events, LOTR and The Hobbit, Redwall, and Percy Jackson.
The Banned and the Banished by James Clemens. Amazing series I never wanted to end!
I’m still a huge Hunger Games fan too