I actually read it as a break for my main reading, Book 6 of the Wheel of Time. So I think I can handle it if a book drags on a bit. And to be completely honest, I always prefer it when books take their time and bramble, instead of darting about and dealing with 20 things at a time.
There's another series of four books to read after if you're unaware.
Try David Eddings, Belgariad series.. Very "traditional" coming of age story with nicely written (if somewhat cookie cutter) characters. Kind of like the novel equivalent of an old-school jrpg.
He did a follow up series called the Mallorean that's a direct continuation, there were also stand alone books about Belgarath and Polgara detailing their lives in the thousands of years running up to the events in the mainline series.
Alone? No. This is how most people react. The books are not at all popular.
ownership of the series has changed hands a few times and a few of them have been republished in different orders as well, but I'd suggest just seeking out second hand copies. They were really easily obtainable second hand in the UK, not sure about elsewhere though.
My favourite of all time is Stephen Donaldsons White gold wielder series, he recently finished the series too. Excellent writing imho, lovely fantasy world:
A lot of people hate Wheel of Time but I am with you and I have read it a few times as well.
The first few books of WOT are not the problem. It's the thousands of pages of wooly-headed, braid tugging, breast heaving inanity that follows in lieu of actual plot development for a good stretch of the later books.
Most recently, I read all four books of Sebastian de Castell's 'Greatcoats' series, and found them to be excellent, fast-paced evocative of The Three Musketeers with a touch of magic. I really can't recommend them enough if you're looking for a newish fantasy author that can write decent fight scenes and dialogue, there's some lovely character progression before book four rounds off the arc for now. Start with Traitor's Blade.
Magic in this world basically operates on contract law, a magical duel more takes the form of a tort law ruling where a bad argument will kill you then your standard fireball off.
While we're on the subject, was anybody else into Fighting Fantasy gamebooks when they were younger? I've been on a nostalgia trip lately and miss a lot of these dearly.
I also did a thread a few weeks back on fantasy/sci-fi art and artists, feel free to swing by and post your favourite cover arts.
https://www.resetera.com/threads/post-you-favourite-fantasy-sci-fi-art-and-artists.13129/
I love Edding's Belgariad, Malorean, Elenium and Tamuli series, they're like comfort food reading for me. Going back to them as a more mature reader exposes the flaws, but the characters are still so charming and even after so many re-reads I still giggle at some of the more amusing bits.
Raymond E Feist's Magician, Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon are brilliant, but for the most part I feel he should have stopped there. That said, the book "Honoured Enemy" is a fantastic little side adventure set during the riftwar.
While we're on the subject, was anybody else into Fighting Fantasy gamebooks when they were younger? I've been on a nostalgia trip lately and miss a lot of these dearly.
I also did a thread a few weeks back on fantasy/sci-fi art and artists, feel free to swing by and post your favourite cover arts.
https://www.resetera.com/threads/post-you-favourite-fantasy-sci-fi-art-and-artists.13129/
I actually have a near-complete set boxed up somewhere - I think I was only missing a couple of volumes post-50?
On topic, I've recently finished Nevernight.
It's very much a post-D&D, post-Pratchett fantasy novel full of self-aware snark (it even copies Pratchett's footnotes) and essentially set in Hogwarts-for-assassins by way of the first Kingsman film.
Despite the obvious roots, it's straight-up entertaining enough that I'd still very much recommend it if you like Abercrombie et al.
For a lot of people, Deathtrap Dungeon really nailed what the series was about with it's setting. And yeah, in an era where we not only didn't have much money, but graphics weren't quite selling the fantasy setting for me, the FF books were my rpg's. Along with Heroquest of course.
The later ones are fairly rare and fetch decent prices as they were printed in smaller quantities due to waning popularity.
Yup, I admit that to me as well it doesn't get much better than the first and second trilogies of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson.My man!!!!! I came here to post:
I recently was able to purchase a copy of the 80s edition of the 1st trilogy in MINT condition in the box sleeve on amazon.
His gap cycle is so good. Though that first book is practically trigger warning the novel.
I loved those! My favourite in that style were Sorcery! and Lonewolf, though.
Well, I find the so-called philosophy of the books to be trite and pretentious, and I actually tend to prefer grimdark/nihilistic worlds and stories, but this one was just not remotely enjoyable. And honestly, deciding to build a world where women are canonically inferior just really makes you wonder what goes on in the author's head...
