#fantasy series tbr

[smalltownfae]

My Top 10 Favourite Fantasy Series

I just saw a top 10 fantasy series video that upset me so I am sharing my own (current) top fantasy series. Since it’s about series as a whole I am taking that into consideration instead of ratings for individual books. I am aware that this is really petty. I am counting series that aren’t finished but I read all the books that came out so far too. Also, some of the placements surprised even myself, but stay with me.

Some extras about fantasy series I want to read/continue at the end.

1. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb

I doubt this will ever change. I read this series for the first time in 2018/2019 and I already reread most of the books in such a short period of time. I also didn’t have an obsession hit me this hard ever since I was a teen. It is very rare for me to get to these levels (thankfully to my poor irl friends that had no idea what I was talking about at the high of my obsession with this). Now, it is in normal levels of loving a series but at the time I even created another tumblr blog in order not to bother my followers because I swear this series was all I posted about. The writing is beautiful, the plot is very emotional and the characters are the most realistic I have ever seen in fiction. There are some things I hate about this series, but also many things I love and those are in greater quantity. Funnily enough this series sort of saved me because at the time I was having some suicidal thoughts but wanting to know where these characters ended kept me going and eventually I got better. Who says fiction doesn’t save lives? This is the most personal series to me and I doubt any other will ever make me feel the same way. As sad as it can be at times, it also makes me laugh a lot and the quiet talks between the characters by the fire give me a comforting feeling like no other.

2.  Discworld by Terry Pratchett

I might not have read all the books in this series. Not even close. But I read at least 10 of them so I am counting it! Since most of the books can be read as standalones anyway I feel like I am in my right. This series wouldn’t be this high if it wasn’t for Reaper Man, Hogfather, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay and the Witches series. I started with The Color of Magic and enjoyed quite a bit, which seems to be an unpopular opinion. However, that can’t compare with the later books and I see that now. The characters are very cartoon-like, but can be surprisingly deep at times and I love how Pratchett explores very real difficult themes through humour and imagination.

3. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The one that is in most lists of this kind. The OG! I must say I am not the biggest fan of the Hobbit and I haven’t read the Silmarillion yet, but besides this trilogy (or one big book, whatever) I have read his essay on Fairy stories and the short Leaf by Niggle and damn me if the man couldn’t write. I know a lot of people struggle with his style, but this exactly the kind of beautiful evocative writing that I like and wish more authors would do. The big themes of Lord of the Rings are heart warming and there is still no place I would rather be but the Shire. I really like the characters too even if I have read the books a long time ago and ever since I have heard people say they aren’t the most complex. I remember the nature descriptions most of all and how Tolkien could be surprisingly funny at times. So, yeah, this warms my heart and I definitly need to give the Silmarillion a try someday. But, please do not talk to me about the world building. That is not the reason why I love this, but it seems to be a big one for most fans.

4. Pandora Hearts by Jun Mochizuki

I trusted two online friends and bought the beautiful box set for this series without having read it and I think the experience of reading it and having such a beautiful thing in my possession helped my enjoyment of this. Mochizuki’s style is very beautiful (and it was only improved in Vanitas), I really like her character and the plot - even though I saw some of the things coming - it’s magnificent. It builds slowly but it’s really worth it. The main character, Oz, appears to be the typical dumb shonen protagonist but very quickly the reader can see he is smarter than he lets on. I never saw a main character like Oz in other shonen manga. There are many characters I could praise and some I am upset about, like Alice. I feel like she could have had so much more development and it’s a bit sad that she didn’t. This series made me laugh, made me gasp and made me tear up, like all series should do to be honest.

5. The First Law by Joe Abercrombie

The reason this is in number 5 is because this man likes war and battle scenes too much. Those are not my favourite things. Still, I find First Law bleak but, most of all, funny. Abercrombie crafted some of my favourite characters like Savine, Jezal, Vick, etc. I have beef with many people in this fandom that doesn’t appreciate my favouries and only talks about the action scenes, but I guess that is the way it is when you get into a series loved by mostly men. I might have my criticisms of the books but Abercrombie knows how to wrap up the themes of his books. It all feels right for the kind of project he has. This series loses points, however, for not bringing me any comfort. The landscapes are mostly empty and I like my nature and quiet moments that are lacking in this.

6.  The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang

We could have had it all, but you had to write two books with added characters I didn’t care about and make the ones I cared about feel stale. The first book in this trilogy is still my favourite. Even though it has flaws I don’t think they are as many (and don’t bother me as much) as the flaws in the two books that follow. The first book was the only one to make me cry and I felt so much for Rin, who had a big character development that stabilized at the end of that book for the most part. This book had some shonen moments, it was funny at times and even a little bit gay. It was great. Then, the second book was a little less great and the third was just disappointing. I know Kuang was just following real historical events, but I still think it could have been done better and that some characters that lasted so little time were unecessary.

7.  The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

In general, this is a 4 star series to me. However, I feel so cozy and nostalgic everytime I read it. I didn’t even read this as a kid, I am in my 30s, but the plot and characters are very familiar to me and remind me of similar stories from my childhood. For that, I have to put it in my favourites for now. This is another series that wraps up so well thematically that I love it as a whole. It’s the coming of age of coming of ages and even though Taran is the protagonist, all the other characters are also interesting and fun to follow. I have some complains about it (mostly about Gurgi’s reverence towards Taran), but I still like it a lot. Doli of the fair folk is the best character, followed by Eilonwy.

8.  Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh

I didn’t think this will be in my top, but here we are. These short novellas are just so cozy, especially the first one. The nature, the kind giant man, the badass mother, the mischievous fae... it’s all such good vibes. The perfect ones for my tastes. 

9.  Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch

Unfinished and I really dislike the second half of the second book, but I love Sabetha, Jean and Locke. Locke could be such an annoying character if he didn’t got kicked in the ass so much. I like that he has that know-it-all attitude but things never go his way in the end. I like my characters to be flawed. Pretty fun and interesting series that I wish would be continued and finished, but I am glad I have two and half books I really like.

10.  Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

Another series of ups and downs. I still have the last 2 books to read, but I finished the original trilogy. I absolutely despise the second book in this series and that main character annoys me to no end. The fourth book also made me really mad. However, I love the first book and really liked the third. I even liked the romance in the third, which is a rarity for me with this author. Why must people with this talent for writing so beautifully use it to write crap? I swear Marillier has one of the most beautiful and evocative styles but then some of the character’s moral values do not align with me at all. Thank you for the side gay character reveal in the later books though. I wish that was explored, but I understand that we are just doing heterosexual romances here. This, like the one that came before, will probably not stay in my top as I read more series that I like better, but it’s here for now.

Series I want to continue:

Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore (read 1 book)

Malazan: Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson (read 1 book)

Chocolat series by Joanne Harris (read 2 books)

The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin (read 2 books)

Riverside by Ellen Kushner (read 1 book)

Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin (read 2 books)

Chronicles of Tornor by Elizabeth A. Lynn (read 1 book)

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin (read 1 book)

Pern series by Anne McCaffrey (read the first book in the Harper Hall)

Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede (read 1 book)

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (read 1 book)

Series I want to start:

Westmark by Lloyd Alexander

Regency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

World of the Five Gods by Lois McMaster Bujold

Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey

Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger

Sorcerer Royal by Zen Cho

Winds of the Forelands by David B.Coe

Tales of the High Court by Megan Derr

Chronicles of Ghadid by K.A. Doore

The Hythrun Chronicles by Jennifer Fallon

Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling

Lays of the Hearth-Fire by Victoria Goddard

The Light of the World trilogy by Nicola Griffith

Poison Wars by Sam Hawke

Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn

Soldier Son by Robin Hobb

Quarters series by Tanya Huff

Redwall by Brian Jacques

Inheritace trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

The Serpent Gates by A.K. Larkwood

Windsingers by Megan Lindholm

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock

The Squire’s Tales by Gerald Morris

The Swan’s War by Sean Russell

Twelve Houses by Sharon Shinn

Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart

The House War by Michelle West

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe

The Darkwater Legacy by Chris Wooding

[caribeandthebooks]

Caribe's Fantasy TBR - Part 3

[marzzficrecs]

Tags

Fav white boy= Leon Kennedy btw

My man<3 = Jason Todd

[lucyamclaren]

Never enough books. NEVER!

[harleyjaneroseauthor]

ACOTAR series definitely brought me back into reading after a slump and helped me find the Book community online.

Have you read it? What did you think?

[cabeswaterdrowned]

Happy Father’s Day to Brimstone from Daughter of Smoke and Bone <33

[bookishlyvintage]

Is it Fall yet?

[alberta-sunrise]

Oops 🙊

[sixofprose]

Best New Fantasy Series

I read the first book of this series a year ago, then reread it a couple days ago to prepare for the second book, which I read yesterday. Let me tell you, folks, this series is a must read.

You follow Kaelin, a young boy in the Bardic Isles, a fantasy world where music is the magic system, as well as a huge part of the social and political order.

Kaelin is a self-taught flutist with a special gift who is afraid to play in front of anyone because of a tragedy he experienced in the past. But through a series of events, he ends up following one of the Masters of Music, getting the training he so desperately needs.

The first book focuses on their relationship, between mentor and student. In the second book, Kaelin spends time with each of the other Masters of Music, as well as the Bards that serve under them, which provides a much larger ensemble cast.

Now, what makes these books magic are the characters. You will fall in love with Kaelin, sweet, kind, beautiful boy, who also has one of the funniest mouths on him. The HUMOR in this book is so clever. The way he interacts with all the various Bards who visit, as well as the Masters, is delightful.

Additionally, it feels like you go on an emotional, healing, and ethical journey right alongside Kaelin. You can tell the author is a lifelong teacher, because the way lessons are taught to both Kaelin and the adults, are so authentic and impactful. I was moved to tears by the emotional moments constantly, and then a page later I would be laughing out loud.

The world that Himeda created is one I want transport myself to immediately. I'm invested in the plot, but more than anything my heart has been stolen by the world and its characters.

Musicians and non-musicians alike will get their breath taken away by these books. These books are wise, the heavy topics are handled with utmost care, and you can feel the love bled into every page. The author is 72 and has spent her whole life dreaming up this series and it really really shows.

If you take a chance on a book/series this week, please let it be this one!!!

It's on Kindle Unlimited too!

[theaawalker]

I. NORM, THE FIVE KINGDOMS

"By the road that I have taken, they do not yet see, and I cannot lead them." - J.R.R. Tolkien

[illreviews]

Review: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Book complete?: No

Thoughts: The Atlas Six could’ve been so much more than it currently is. I haven’t read the sequels (and do not plan to) and honestly am not really sure where it would go from how it started. The characters are mostly and mainly obnoxious in some way, shape, or form. Particularly obnoxious is Libby Rhodes, who seems to have the worst case of untreated social anxiety I have ever read in a book. Equally annoying, but for other reasons, is Parisa Kamali, who is generally portrayed in a vapid and needlessly sexual “not like other girls” kind of view. The male characters all seem to fall flat but for various reasons. Nico has a surprisingly bland personality and his relationship with Gideon is never fully explained nor reasoned upon. Tristan is a constant pessimist who is obsessive about his mobster father (who is never fully explained either) and is just generally a drag. As for Callum, what can be said about him? He’s got one personality trait and it’s that he feels nothing and feels nothing about feeling nothing. At one point (spoilers), he “kills” Parisa and I believe this is just to cement that he is actually psychopathic, though this is hardly touched on again besides some mentions from Nico and Parisa. As for the writing, geez! I want to know why the writer suddenly decided to become Henry James. The sentences could be written with about half the words that are in the actual thing and furthermore, it doesn’t do anything for the story! It’s vaguely Victorian, pretentious, and just really hard to read. I get the feeling that Blake was going for the haughtiness of Dark Academia but she ultimately falls flat in her attempts. The action scenes are far from feeling like the amount of action that they propose. Half the time, I don’t even know where the characters are standing/sitting/jumping off a balcony(??). As for the magic usage, it’s poorly explained and left me wondering just exactly what the rules for magic are in this universe. It leaves too much to the imagination and not enough to the actual text. All that being said, the illustrations that are included in the novel are quite nice. I really liked the art, but really did not like the story.

Notable quotable: “You don’t have to be sorry for existing, you know.”

Book cover review: Lovely cover, if you get it in the first edition. Otherwise, sort of bland and boring.

Overall rating: ♥♥ 

[librarydate]

Series I want to start in 2023!

Honestly there are so many series I’m in the middle of so I don’t want to start too many this year without at least getting through a few of them. But these are the ones I had on my shelves that I got last year and haven’t had a chance to get to them so I hope to conquer this TBR list!

Leviathan Wakes will also be my first SciFi series so I’m excited to try it out!

[esmeraythewriter]

My current tbr

The fear (currently reading actually)

The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue

Empire of the Vampire

Scythe (series)

The Poppy War (series)

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

This is the first volume of the "Empyrean" series.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She's young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.

Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.

Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d'Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She'll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families' blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.

But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.

This is the first volume of the "The Middlemist Trilogy."

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy, young girls are raised to be killers. In some few children the old bloods show, gifting rare talents that can be honed to deadly or mystic effect. But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don't truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls.

A bloodstained child of nine falsely accused of murder, guilty of worse, Nona is stolen from the shadow of the noose. It takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist, but under Abbess Glass's care there is much more to learn than the arts of death. Among her class Nona finds a new family—and new enemies.

Despite the security and isolation of the convent, Nona's secret and violent past finds her out, drawing with it the tangled politics of a crumbling empire. Her arrival sparks old feuds to life, igniting vicious struggles within the church and even drawing the eye of the emperor himself.

Beneath a dying sun, Nona Grey must master her inner demons, then loose them on those who stand in her way.

This is the first volume in the "Book of the Ancestor" series.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

This is the first volume of the "Scholomance" series.

Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow

The Thief Kingdom is a place hidden within the world of Aadlior. Many whisper of its existence, but few have found this place, where magic and pleasure abound. There, the mysterious Thief King reigns supreme with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses.

Larkyra Bassette may be the youngest of the Mousai, but when she sings her voice has the power to slay monsters. When it’s discovered the Duke of Lachlan is siphoning a poisonous drug from the Thief Kingdom and using it to abuse his tenants, Larkyra is offered her first solo mission to stop the duke. Eager to prove herself, Larkyra accepts by posing as the duke’s potential bride. But her plans grow complicated when she finds herself drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, Lachlan’s rightful heir. Soon she suspects Darius has his own motivations for ridding Lachlan of the corrupt duke. Larkyra and Darius must learn to trust each other if there is to be any hope of saving the people of Lachlan—and themselves.

This is the first volume of the "Mousai" series.

[nerdynatreads]

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september tbr || It's Due to the Heat -- September TBR || Squash that Series & RomComathon

It’s September!! Fall is on her way here! I can’t wait for cooler weather and some spooky books. My TBR jars returned this month and I’ll also be participating in Squash That Series as well as RomComathon, so my tbr… is ambitious. Apart from these, I’ll also be reading:

Rouge by Mona Awad

Troy by Stephen Fry

Fence Vol 5 by C.S. Pacat

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler

Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

[the-martyrfication-of-the-matron]

Second time around DNFing The Secret History but not in a ‘i don’t want to read it’ way but in a ‘I need to read fantasy books or else my writing suffers’ way.