LogFAQs > #979943880

Malazan is incredibly tough to penetrate. I've read 4 or 5 books I think. I'd say overall I like it but it's not a must read for everyone. It's awesome - a lot of the things that happen are just really fucking metal. But you gotta be prepared for being confused for awhile before things start to make sense, and any given starting of a new book might be just as confusing with a different cast of characters. Best way to describe it is that it feels like you are reading somebodies D&D ad hoc'd adventure translated into a full on fantasy novel/series. Which apparently is actually what it is.

Joe Abercrombie's First Law series is one of the most popular fantasy series these days. It's grimdark for sure. It's low magic though - magic definitely exists and there are magic users, but its uncommon and main characters aren't magic users. I think they are incredible books - as a huge fan of the cosmere I would say they are just as good, but I don't like them as much because I'm just not a big fan of grimdark and pessimism. I prefer Brandons hopeful optimism that flows underneath most of what he writes. But I could see somebody that leans more towards the grimdark tone and aesthetic preferring him for sure, and I still love reading his books. They are great to alternate from Brandon.

Discworld - this series has a lot more wry tone to it - if you've read Sir Chris's writings, a lot of it feels very much like discworld. Dr Doom is very inspired and feels like Death from Discworld. There is definitely magic and a sense you are in a strange fantasy world basically all the time. The first book the Colour of Magic implies that a lot - but a lot of people say its not a good entry point since even though its okay, it's not as good as the vast majority of the series, and since its so large there are other good entry points. I liked the Colour of Magic when I read it recently but I see what people mean. I'm just starting Guards! Guards! now actually which is one of the jump on points so I suppose I'll see how good that is. I already feel like this is a classic series any fan of fantasy should give a shot to though.

Wheel of Time - the GOAT and my favourite series. 14 book long running epic. the first book feels a bit derivative of LOTR but thats all good. Very complex magic system and huge cast of characters. love it. The show isn't that good.

Tigana - one off book by Guy Gavriel Kay. Sanderson always quotes it as his favourite standalone fantasy novel, so I gave it a shot. I absolutely loved it. It's about small continent that has been conquered by a wizard from two different foreign nations - each wizard controls half of the 9 or so provinces that make up the continent and have enacted pretty brutal rule on the populations as they maneuver to take out the other and rule the entire area themselves. Story follows a few of the residents of continent and how they sure don't like having those wizards around. Story is fairly low magic as there isn't many magic users aside from the two conquerors but obviously it's hugely part of the story still. I think this is worth reading, and I plan to read more GGK in the future

Random fantasy novel that I'd recommend -

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence. Part of a trilogy. Here is the first passage of the book:

It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size. For Sister Thorn of the Sweet Mercy Convent Lano Tacsis brought two hundred men.