Current Events > OK CE, what are some good unique fantasy books or series to read?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Something beyond the chosen one or quest for good and evil. I'm reading three parts dead, which is fucking fantastic, and Jade City is next up, or maybe Perdido Street Station if I give Mieville another shot

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are pretty good -- there's a little bit of "good and evil" aspect to it, but I like his prose, and there's quite a bit of character building that I enjoyed. First book is called Name of the Wind. Fair warning though, it's unfinished -- only the first two books of the (planned) trilogy are released.
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A Game of Thrones
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SusanGreenEyes posted...

A Game of Thrones

If you want something that will never be finished ever sure
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The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson
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The Solider Son trilogy by Robin Hobb and The Baker's Boy series by JV Jones are pretty good, IMO

I also liked Last of the Renshai
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Sylph posted...

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson

I was thinking about recommending this too lol. Excellent (older) series. Also, they're pretty well known, but I also recommend the Earthsea books by Ursula K Le Guin. Very interesting stuff with magic
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sellerdore posted...

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are pretty good -- there's a little bit of "good and evil" aspect to it, but I like his prose, and there's quite a bit of character building that I enjoyed. First book is called Name of the Wind. Fair warning though, it's unfinished -- only the first two books of the (planned) trilogy are released.

Can attest to this. There's also an unusual dynamic (for a fantasy series) where it's not entirely clear what you should believe from the narrator.
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There was one book series called the Legend of the Five Rings. It was basically a fantasy style world set in feudal Japanese era. It revolves around several clans reacting to a world shifting event that happens at the end of the first book. There are Samurai, Sorcerers, Oni, epic battles, all the good stuff.

pinky0926 posted...

sellerdore posted...

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are pretty good -- there's a little bit of "good and evil" aspect to it, but I like his prose, and there's quite a bit of character building that I enjoyed. First book is called Name of the Wind. Fair warning though, it's unfinished -- only the first two books of the (planned) trilogy are released.

Can attest to this. There's also an unusual dynamic (for a fantasy series) where it's not entirely clear what you should believe from the narrator.

Kvothe is totally full of shit, bound to be. It just fits his personality too well.

Bump, got the basics but I want some new suggestions

The Advesary Cycle (series of books) by F Paul Wilson
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The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, if you liked American Gods.

and if you haven't read American Gods, then that and other Neil Gaiman stuff
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boxington posted...

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, if you liked American Gods.

and if you haven't read American Gods, then that and other Neil Gaiman stuff

I love American Gods so I'll check this out!

Dune if you somehow haven't heard of it, it is mostly scifi but has a big bend of fantasy and mysticism. It is a very unique read, do not watch the movie.
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I'd like some suggestions too. Finished Mistborn and would like some books with the same quality.
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LightningAce11 posted...

Finished Mistborn and would like some books with the same quality.

I haven't read Mistborn, but I'm nearly finished with the first book in Sanderson's other series The Stormlight Archive and I love it.
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The Sovereign Stone trilogy.
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First Law Trilogy is great dark fantasy.

If cyberpunk appeals to you even in the slightest, The Sprawl Trilogy.

My fave book is Ubik. Sci Fi/Fantasy psychological horror. Has a dark sense of humor and messes with your head (in a good way.) Its brilliant.
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OctilIery posted...

Something beyond the chosen one or quest for good and evil.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Any book worth reading is going to have a protagonist and an antagonist even if it doesn't necessarily have a happy ending. These are generally going to be portrayed as quest for good and evil.
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LightningAce11 posted...

I'd like some suggestions too. Finished Mistborn and would like some books with the same quality.

Lies of Locke Lamora is a great one. Think pirates of the carribean meets oceans 11 with a little magic thrown in.

The Divine Cities Trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett is amazing, three separate but connected stories.

The First Law Trilogy and follow up books are really good if you want some more grim dark stuff.

ChromaticAngel posted...

OctilIery posted...

Something beyond the chosen one or quest for good and evil.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Any book worth reading is going to have a protagonist and an antagonist even if it doesn't necessarily have a happy ending. These are generally going to be portrayed as quest for good and evil.

Not at all. Protagonist and antagonist doesn't mean good and evil, the morality can be way more gray than that. First Law is a good example, so is the Divine Cities.

Also, something with a small, personal story rather than fighting a great evil, like the shattered sigil Trilogy, can be very refreshing.

Does the apple poop to!?
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Temeraire: His Majesty's Dragon.
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ChromaticAngel posted...

OctilIery posted...

Something beyond the chosen one or quest for good and evil.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Any book worth reading is going to have a protagonist and an antagonist even if it doesn't necessarily have a happy ending. These are generally going to be portrayed as quest for good and evil.

Not really. First Law, Gentlemen Bastards, and Night Angel are all good examples. There are protags and antags but no one is strictly good or evil.

Hey TC have you read Stormlight Archive yet? If you're a sucker for great world building I cannot recommend it more. Fair warning it's only 3 books in to a massive 10 book plan.
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sellerdore posted...

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are pretty good -- there's a little bit of "good and evil" aspect to it, but I like his prose, and there's quite a bit of character building that I enjoyed. First book is called Name of the Wind. Fair warning though, it's unfinished -- only the first two books of the (planned) trilogy are released.

Still gotta read the 2nd book. The 1st was great. When I found out the 3rd isn't out and probably won't be out anytime soon it made me wanna take a bit of a gap between the 2 books
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I wouldn't call them good but, if you want some rather odd fantasy books, the Old Kingdom quintilogy is kinda interesting. It seems like Garth Nix was trying to come up with as unique a magic system as he could, and the result is this strange construction that aims less for sensibility and more for "can this move the story forward?" They're also fun if you want an example of someone's writing quality deteriorating over time rather than improving - first book in the series is alright for what it is, and it just keeps getting worse with each entry.

SusanGreenEyes posted...

A Game of Thrones

100% this with the caveat that it isn't, and might never be, finished.
Really refreshing to read a story that's so...ugly, compared to a lot of fantasy out there which has this sort of falsely whimsical, "Let's go on a merry quest!" feel to it. Hardly anyone who can be considered heroic, and the "villains" in the story have motive beyond serving some supreme dark one and fulfilling its aims.
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sellerdore posted...

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles are pretty good -- there's a little bit of "good and evil" aspect to it, but I like his prose, and there's quite a bit of character building that I enjoyed. First book is called Name of the Wind. Fair warning though, it's unfinished -- only the first two books of the (planned) trilogy are released.

Read the two books twice so far. The part where he hangs with that chick and all he does is bang is realllllllly boring.
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Gormenghast
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DocDelicious posted...

The Sovereign Stone trilogy.

I haven't read this series, but I love the authors. and a lot of there stuff other than Dragonlance should fit (and I like DL, too. but it's not particularly unique) Definitely check out the Darksword and Death Gate series.
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The Skulduggery Pleasant series
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Book 2 of the Kingkiller Chronicles was such a drop in quality. First book was so great, second book was so boring.
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The Scourge

Basically it's knights and swords and armor and medieval England but with zombies.

From a website I found:

A mysterious plague descends upon 14th century England, ravaging the country and trapping the souls of the afflicted in eternal madness. The feudal hierarchy--and even the church itself-- slowly crumbles as the dead rise to feed and the living seek whatever shelter they can. The bishops of England call for calm and obedience, but one man isnt listening.

Sir Edward of Bodiam has been separated from the woman he loves and nothing on heaven or earth can stop him from seeking her out.

Edward and two of his knights travel through the swiftly changing landscape of England, a countryside now overrun by the minions of hell. The knights encounter madness, violence, and sorrow, but Edward fights his way ever deeper into the thickening darkness of unholy terror.

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I would still recommend The Wheel of Time

It has the whole "good vs evil" vibe to it, but twists it around just enough to be interesting to me, and a lot of the times the heroes don't act like heroes, especially the main one later in the series.
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Sabram posted...

I would still recommend The Wheel of Time

It has the whole "good vs evil" vibe to it, but twists it around just enough to be interesting to me, and a lot of the times the heroes don't act like heroes, especially the main one later in the series.

Eh, I love Wheel of Time but it's pretty straight good vs Evil for the most part. It's strength was more I'm the great world building.

Got the first Stormlight book. Enjoying it so far. Sanderson is so good at drawing you in with the first sentence.
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A Land Fit for Heroes by Richard K. Morgan

Very... unheroic heroes. Also, just FYI, there's descriptive gay sex scenes. I know that may shock some folks.
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Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
Star Wars
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If you don't mind silly fantasy, Piers Anthony's Xanth series is enjoyable. Think it is around 30 books in the series. Helpful to read in order, but not necessary. Supporting character in one book may become the main character in another.
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