Best Fantasy Books of 2016

The final volume in Pierce Brown's mega popular Red Rising trilogy. This book came out February 2016; it managed to impress us.So far, this has been our favorite read of 2016, even though it's technically a science fiction book. Without a doubt, most fantasy fans will enjoy the series and the final book in the trilogy. Brown does a fantastic job tying up the series. The book's well written, the action non-stop, and the resolution fitting. One thing I've loved about this series is the deep, often profound introspective moments by the protagonist, in between bouts of non-stop action. It provides a counter to quick pacing and frenetic action that propels the story forward to the end game. The whole series has been one of motion – from the first page to the last page, the characters are moving, plotting, and acting. It's exciting from start to finish. I loved the first book in the series the most, Red Rising. Red Rising was a perfect blend of Ender's Game, Dune, and Lord of the Flies. The exiting plot and expansive world building made it one of the most exciting books I've read, ever. I'd give the first book in the series a solid 9.5 out of 10. The second book, Golden Son, was a bit disappointing. It was still good enough to read and enjoy, but the rampant use of Dues Ex Machina to save the hero, not to mention plot twists you could see a mile off, hurt the story. The protagonist continually made bad choices over and over, which did not fit in line with his character. Fortunately, the concluding book Morning Star is far better than the last book – it reads somewhat like a cross between the first and second book in plot and overall feel. Overall, Morning Star was a magnificent read from start to finish and a fitting conclusion that wraps everything up while still hinting at more to come in future books. I note that Brown is now working on a sequel trilogy that follows on the events after this trilogy ends. So for a remarkable reading experience, start on Pierce Brown's Red Rising trilogy. Morning Star is so far my favorite reading of 2016. Given that at time of writing this, it's only the first week of March 2016, so this could change in the 9 or so months before the end of 2016 -- there are a lot of good books coming out.

2014's City of Stairs was a remarkable read and was widely regarded by many critics as one of the best, if not the best, novel of 2014. Robert Jackson Bennett is one of the most talented fantasy / horror authors out there – a magnificent story teller but also a very fine writer as well. He can tell you a complex story while also delighting you with how it's told. You won't find any clunky writing in Bennett's work.City of Blades is a loose sequel to City of Blades. You don't necessary have to read the first book to read the second, though it can help you better understand the nature of Bennett's creation.Now is the book any good? Yes, it is. I wasn't blown away like I was in the first, but this is probably due to just how damn good the first one was and how high my expectations where for the sequel. By all measures it's nearly the equal to the first book with a far more developed world, now that the heavy lifting in regards to the world building has been done by the first book already. This book serves to expand what was started in the first book. So far, City of Blades is one of the better books of 2016. It's also a different take on the epic fantasy genre and one of the best written books this year. Perhaps it's not as shockingly impressive as the first book, but with just how awesome City of Stairs was, it's impressive enough that Book 2 manages to maintain the high standards of the first book.

I maintain Jeff Salyards military fantasy is some of the best stuff in the genre. I was fascinated by the world created by Salyards in the first book (even if it was just a brief introduction to the world at large), I was blown away by the second book which did everything the first book did, but better, and this book lives up and further expands the world created.  If you love military fantasy – especially fantasy about mercenary companies – i.e. The Black Company or The Broken Empire books – Blood Sounder's Arc series is some of the best I've read. Overall, Chains of the Heretic is a fantastic continuation to the series and one of the better books I've read this year so far. This series remains one of my absolute favorite and this book delivers. Do yourself a favor and pick the series up if you have not yet.

Daniel Abraham's five book epic fantasy comes to an end with The Spider's War. It's a remarkable book that wraps things up just the right way, answering all questions, tying up all threads, and leaving you hungry for more. The Dagger and the Coin series is one of the more unique epic fantasy works I've read. It's a epic fantasy, military fantasy, economic fantasy and more. It's honestly hard to describe what this series is by category. But however you label it, The Dagger and the Coin is one of the best -- and now with this final book out, COMPLETED – fantasy series in the genre. The characters are all fiercely drawn with completely realistic motivations, the setting highly imaginative, the political maneuvering complex, and the economics interesting to read about. Abraham tries very hard to avoid some of those standard clichés present in the genre. Indeed, all of his characters – both the heroes and villains – are far from simple creatures, but living, breathing, and understandable in motivations. Regardless of what a character does – the good or the evil actions – you can at least completely understand what drives that character to make those decisions, even if you still hate them for it.If you've started the series, you will no doubt be reading this final book to see how things finish. The Dagger and the Coin is not a fast paced series – especially the first couple books. It's a slow burning epic fantasy that takes a while for the engine to warm up. But once it does, things move fast. Read this to finish one of the best fantasy series out there. It's very much different than your classic epic fantasy, but so much the better for it.

This Urban fantasy kind of goes in the direction of Dresden and Sandman Slim when you start reading, but diverges pretty quickly, proving that it's something entirely different.Drake is a dark noir story set in an magical London and about a guy who, if he wasn't the protagonist, might otherwise by called by some a scumbag. The 'hero' -- and I use that term loosely here -- also ends up on the receiving end of a lot of beatings, which by itself is unusual in the genre (usually, these down and out magician types give out the beat downs). But because Drake goes in some different directions that you initially expect, it makes for a pretty interesting read all around. You don't know what to expect. I mean, when your 'hero' doesn't always 'win' fights, well, you never know where things stand plot wise. Anything can happen. And this is what I like about Drake. The unexpected happens, often.So yes, I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves noir urban fantasy with a different twist than the usual.Do read if you like Sandman Slim and Yancy Lazarus books. You might enjoy it too, if you like the Dresden Files and Alex Verus books, but keep in mind though that Drake is no hero – he's a hard drinking magician hitman of sorts who's out for himself first.

If you like what Schwab did in her first book, A Darker Shade of Magic, then you'll definitely like what she does in the sequel. I had mixed feelings about the first book, which started out strong with interesting world building, and interesting characters, and an enticing plot. However, the book was wildly uneven, starting strong and ending weak.Things pick up for the better though in Book 2 and if you liked what Schwab does in the first book, this book does everything a bit better. As such, it's a pretty good read – a better one even – than the first. If you want to read about an alternate London full of thieves, pirates, magic, bad boy Royals, teeny angst, and all that, well, both the first and second book in the series will smash all those buttons. Fans of Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Red Queen's War especially, will really enjoy Schwab's books as they occupy the same sort of space. The two books feature a strong, empowered female protagonist; as such, it's a good female-oriented fantasy with romance, angst, powerful women, and such. Given the year is still early and there's a lot of awesome books coming out over the next months, I don't feel A Gathering of Shadows will stand the test of time and beat out all the other still-to-be-released books. But at least for now, as of March, it's one of the better fantasy books released.And if you have read the first book and liked it, then regardless of what I say, you'll be reading it either way.

Yet another Sanderson book. The second book to come out in 2016, and it's only March! Seriously, I don't know how Sanderson can write so prolifically – he writes two, sometimes three books a year. Wax and Wayne Mistborn book was a pretty exciting read overall and sets things up for the final book in the Wax & Wayne Mistborn series. It's about what you expect from the Sanderson formula at this point.It's also a much, much, much better book than the previous one which pretty much existed only as a back story to set this book up. Fortunately Sanderson delivers on expectations with this one. Bands of Mourning is packed with action and moves the Mistborn world and plot forward into new directions.While this book may not be anything ground breaking or complex, it's definitely one of the more exciting fantasy books to read, especially if you want non-stop action. So well worth reading. With some outstanding books on the Horizon though, we'll see if this book remains on our Best of 2016 list though.

This just came out in March and is one of the best fantasy books of 2016 and wraps up one of THE best fantasy series to come out the past decade. It's the perfect blend of magic, politics, character conflict, and sibling rivalry.It's a stunning conclusion to a remarkable epic fantasy trilogy. What's even more impressive is Staveley has managed to maintain excellence in every one of the three books -- there is NO dip in quality. As things go, the series even goes from great to even BETTER with each book.It does end the series with a bang -- a bitter sweet, yet worthwhile one. The Last Mortal Bond does one up over the last one by fleshing out some of the characters far more than in the previous books -- which is a good thing because it was hard to follow along (or emphasize) with some of the character choices over the last two books. These choices are more understandable as you start reading Book 3.I would personally rank this near the top for the best fantasy books of 2016 that I've read so far -- right up there next to Pierce Brown's Morning Star (which is actually science fiction).Absolutely make sure you read this book if you haven't yet. And if you've not started on the first book in the series, The Emperor's Blades, then you are seriously missing out.

Felt so so about the first book, loved the second book, and I also love the final book in Lawrence's new take on an anti-hero prince. Jarl, the hero of The Red Queen's War trilogy, is a completely different character than Prince Jorg from The Broken Empire trilogy. Though the characters of the princes are vastly different, what has remained the same is Lawrence's deft writing, poignant (yet cloaked in sarcasm) remarks about the absurdity of the human condition, and his wonderfully deep world building.The Red Queen's War is more of your traditional epic fantasy tale than the last trilogy and the world is more filled out, more explained. I was quite impressed how Lawrence builds the world and how he explains the strangeness of it; it's one of the better examples of merging science fiction / post apocalyptic fiction with epic fantasy in such a way that it all makes perfect sense.One of my favorite books this year and a strong conclusion to a strong fantasy series. Mark Lawrence continues to prove himself as one of the top fantasy authors of our generation. Pick this book up (and read the series if you haven't) with no reserve. 

For centuries beyond counting, humanity has served the Others, god-like Eternals who rule from their cloud-capped mountain-city, building a civilization of unimagined beauty and unchecked viciousness. But all that is about to change. Bas Alyates, grizzled general of a thousand battles, has assembled a vast army with which to contend with the might of Those Above. Eudokia, Machiavellian matriarch and the power behind the Empty Throne, travels to the Roost, nominally to play peacemaker - but in fact to inspire the human population toward revolt. Deep in the dark byways of the mountain\'s lower tiers, the urchin Pyre leads a band of fanatical revolutionaries in acts of terrorism against their inhuman oppressors. Against them, Calla, handmaiden of the Eternals\' king, fights desperately to stave off the rising tide of violence which threatens to destroy her beloved city. The story begun in Those Above comes to a stunning conclusion in this unforgettable battle for the hearts and minds of the human race, making The Empty Throne the most exciting epic fantasies of recent times.

Michael J. Sullivan's trailblazing career began with the breakout success of his Riyria series: full-bodied, spellbinding fantasy adventures whose imaginative scope and sympathetic characters won a devoted readership and comparisons to fantasy masters Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, and Tolkien himself. Now, Sullivan's stunning hardcover debut,Age of Myth, inaugurates an original five-book series--and one of fantasy's finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between men and those they thought were gods changes forever.Now, only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer. Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom. And Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people.The Age of Myth is over; the time of rebellion has begun.

This is Ryan's best book since his wonderful first book (The Blood Song) which took the world by storm and rang all the same bells that Patrick Rothfuss did in The Name of the Wind.The Waking Fire, in fact, has been one of my favorite reads this year. It's wonderfully written and brings us a new, inventive fantasy world. This one reads like a cross between Mistborn, Horatio Hornblower, and Pern.I'm not even sure how to describe what this book is. It seems like Anthony Ryan took a look at a dozen different genres and decided to mix them all together.We have:steampunkdragon fantasyepic fantasynavel fictionlost worldspirate fictionthief / underworld fantasyspecial agents & spy fictiona Mistborn-style magical systemOver the many pages of this novel, there's everything from magically powered steam ship to ship battles, power struggles in the  urban underworld among thieves, Mistborn-style action & magic, Arthur Conan Doyle style Lost World fiction, spy fiction, and of course, all of this wrapped up into an epic fantasy. And somehow, it works. This is one of the books this year that didn't let go of me. It's not perfect, but man is it a fun, fun read. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.The magic system is a bit TOO similar to Sanderson's Allomancy, but Ryan changes things up slightly so it's still unique (though heavily inspired by Mistborn). The plot is pure fantasy adventure, full of super powered heroes, large wild landscapes, and powerfully dangerous wildlife, including dragons.Definitely pick this one up if you love Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson or The Lightbringer by Brett Weeks -- it has some of the same feeling.

A page-turning debut in the tradition of Michael Crichton, World War Z, and The Martian, Sleeping Giants is a thriller fueled by an earthshaking mystery—and a fight to control a gargantuan power.  A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.   Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.   But some can never stop searching for answers.   Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?   Praise for Sleeping Giants“Reminiscent of The Martian and World War Z, Sleeping Giants is a luminous conspiracy yarn that shoots for (and lands among) the stars.”—Pierce Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising  “As high-concept as it is, Sleeping Giants is a thriller through and through. . . . Not only is Sleeping Giants one of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory, it’s a smart demonstration of how science fiction can honor its traditions and reverse-engineer them at the same time.”—NPR   “Neuvel weaves a complex tapestry with ancient machinery buried in the Earth, shadow governments, and geopolitical conflicts. But the most surprising thing about the book may just be how compelling the central characters are in the midst of these larger-than-life concepts. . . . I can’t stop thinking about it.”—Chicago Review of Books “First-time novelist Sylvain Neuvel does a bold, splashy cannonball off the high dive with Sleeping Giants. It bursts at the seams with big ideas and the questions they spawn—How much human life is worth sacrificing in the pursuit of scientific progress? Can humanity be trusted with weapons of ultimate destruction? And the biggest: Are we alone? But all that really matters is that this book is a sheer blast from start to finish. I haven’t had this much fun reading in ages.”—Blake Crouch, author of Dark Matter and the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy“A remarkable debut . . . Reminiscent of Max Brooks’s World War Z, the story’s format effectively builds suspense.”—Library Journal (debut of the month)   “This stellar debut novel . . . masterfully blends together elements of sci-fi, political thriller and apocalyptic fiction. . . . A page-turner of the highest order.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“[A] fascinating first novel . . . This intriguing tale is entirely worthy of an adult audience.”—Publishers Weekly

Following Peter Newman's brilliant debut, THE VAGRANT. This is the much-anticipated sequel, THE MALICE. In the south, the Breach stirs. Gamma's sword, the Malice, wakes, calling to be taken to battle once more. But the Vagrant has found a home now, made a life and so he turns his back, ignoring its call. The sword cries out, frustrated, until another answers. Her name is Vesper.Overall, I found this one an excellent read and a strong continuation to The Vagrant. There's more of the same about this new book that was in The Vagrant; the world, the events, and the history are are filled out more in the sequel book. The writing, like the first book, is also strong, as are the characters.Highly recommended -- one of my favorites this year, and a must read if you picked up and liked the first book.

Mage Alex Verus is back in the seventh in the “gorgeously realized”* urban fantasy series from the national bestselling author of Veiled.   I’m used to people wanting me dead. But, this time, I’m not the only one on the hit list—and time is running out...   Diviner Alex Verus finally made one too many enemies on the Council of Mages, and now one of them is angry enough to have him executed. Fighting for his life is nothing new, but this kill order also calls for the death of Alex’s dependents—and there’s no way that he’ll let Luna, Anne, and Vari take the heat.   With only a week before he’s history, Alex will have to figure out how to disassociate himself from his friends, scrounge up allies on the Council, and hopefully keep his head attached to his body.   But saving himself is going to bring him into direct opposition with his former master and the Dark mages surrounding him. And, this time, escaping with his life might mean losing his soul...

The bestselling author of the groundbreaking novels Under Heaven and River of Stars, Guy Gavriel Kay is back with a new book, set in a world inspired by the conflicts and dramas of Renaissance Europe. Against this tumultuous backdrop the lives of men and women unfold on the borderlands—where empires and faiths collide.  From the small coastal town of Senjan, notorious for its pirates, a young woman sets out to find vengeance for her lost family. That same spring, from the wealthy city-state of Seressa, famous for its canals and lagoon, come two very different people: a young artist traveling to the dangerous east to paint the grand khalif at his request—and possibly to do more—and a fiercely intelligent, angry woman, posing as a doctor’s wife, but sent by Seressa as a spy.   The trading ship that carries them is commanded by the accomplished younger son of a merchant family, ambivalent about the life he’s been born to live. And farther east a boy trains to become a soldier in the elite infantry of the khalif—to win glory in the war everyone knows is coming.   As these lives entwine, their fates—and those of many others—will hang in the balance, when the khalif sends out his massive army to take the great fortress that is the gateway to the western world...

As the audacious and subversive' Shadow Campaigns novels continue, the weather is growing warmer, but the frosty threat of Vordans enemies is only growing worse... As the roar of the guns subsides and the smoke of battle clears, the country of Vordan is offered a fragile peace After their shattering defeats at the hands of brilliant General Janus bet Vhalnich, the opposing powers have called all sides to the negotiating table in hopes of securing an end to the war. Queen Raesinia of Vordan is anxious to see the return of peace, but Janus insists that any peace with the implacable Sworn Church of Elysium is doomed to fail. For their Priests of the Black, there can be no truce with heretics and demons they seek to destroy, and the war is to the death. Soldiers Marcus dIvoire and Winter Ihernglass find themselves caught between their general and their queen. Now, each must decide which leader truly commands their loyaltyand what price they might pay for final victory. And in the depths of Elysium, a malign force is risingand defeating it might mean making sacrifices beyond anything they have ever imagined.

The much-anticipated third installment of R. Scott Bakkers acclaimed series, The Aspect-EmperorPraised by fans and critics worldwide, R. Scott Bakker has become one of the most celebrated voices in fantasy literature. With The Great Ordeal, Bakker presents the long-anticipated third volume of The Aspect-Emperor, a series that stands with the finest in the genre for its grandiose scope, rich detail, and thrilling story. As Fanim war-drums beat just outside the city, the Empress Anasurimbor Esmenet searches frantically throughout the palace for her missing son Kelmomas. Meanwhile and many miles away, Esmenets husbands Great Ordeal continues its epic march further north. But in light of dwindling supplies, the Aspect-Emperors decision to allow his men to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc could have consequences even He couldnt have foreseen. And, deep in Ishul, the wizard Achamian grapples with his fear that his unspeakably long journey might be ending in emptiness, no closer to the truth than when he set out. The Aspect-Emperor series follows Bakkers Prince of Nothing saga, returning to the same world twenty years later. The Great Ordeal follows The Judging Eye and The White-Luck Warrior, and delivers the first half of the conclusion to this epic story. Returning to Bakkers richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, The Aspect-Emperor continues to set the bar for the fantasy genre, reaching new heights of intricacy and meaning.

This series is quite simply a work of art. Like all great authors, Weeks shows significant progression since his debut Way of Shadows series, and manages to balance world, plot, and character spectacularly. The inventiveness is off the charts, from his color-based magic system to a varying cast of misfits. In this novel, we get a mash-up of five different PoVs, each intensely interesting and unique. They're complex, with none being completely perfect and many making wrong decisions. With those mistakes, Weeks makes room for development while also tying in a plot that is a lot more complex than it seems. In fact, that's a good way to describe the book in general. From the magic system to the world and characters, there's an easy, surface route, and a much deeper truth lying underneath. Kip is the perfect example of this, with an outward appearance of snideness and sarcasm, but an inner lack of self-belief. With greatly improved prose, Weeks devotes some of the novel to the pursuit of this. The personal journey is to fix those parts, rather than mask them. Read if you like: Inventive magic systems, great world-building, epic fantasy.

Book 4 in the fantastically awesome Traitor's Son Cycle This series is currently my favorite new fantasy series and it's the next best thing since Malazan Book of the Fallen. It's what you get when The Sword in the Stone has a love child with Malazan Book of the Fallen.Each book has been better, with the last book capping off one of the most exciting fantasy reads of the decade (and one of the largest 'battles' ever to grace the pages of a fantasy book). There's a reason why people are comparing the Traitor's Son Cycle to Mazalan. But it's a MUCH easier read, but started to look just as complicated in reach and plot. Now did this book deliver on the promise?Yes and no. Truth be told, the book dragged on in parts with not a lot happening other than characters talking to each other. There were, in typical Cameron style, brief interludes with intense action. Cameron knows how to write thrilling action and those few parts that contain such action keep the book kicking. But I wanted much more of this.My feeling here is that Cameron, when he writes a more contained story about a small band of adventurers surviving in the wilderness against monsters (i.e The Wild) is when Cameron is at is best. There were several parts in the book (near the beginning and near the end) when Cameron follows a few characters trying to survive against great odds in the Wild. These parts were the strongest in the book. The rest of the book seemed to be mostly setting things up for the next book.My big complaint is that we have to wait another year for the next book. But the author has been writing at a serious pace, releasing a new book each year, putting the likes of Martin to shame with his one book per 10 year release schedule. While I don't feel this is the best book in the series so far, as a whole the series has proven to be one of the best new epic fantasy series of the past decade. Cameron has built himself a huge world with a long list of characters and because of this events are dragged out longer, though Cameron is doing a decent job so far at moving things along.Read it? Yes. Don't even hesitate to pick this book up (if you've read the previous 3). And if you haven't started reading The Traitor's Son Cycle, then make the series your next read dammit.It's a good book -- not the best read this year or the best in the series, but the book carries the story forward and a few of the thrilling action sequences make up for the slower parts in the book. Just keep in mind it takes a good 1/3 of the book before you start going somewhere.