Good Fantasy Reads

The Way Of Shadows (Night Angel) Start here

by Weeks, Brent

With magically enhanced assassins, intrigue, and a conflicted protagonist, this trilogy is epic and personal.

The Night Angel trilogy is the story of a young, abused street-thief's transformation into a badass, magically-enhanced assassin. As one might expect from a story about learning to kill people for a living, it's more...

The Briar King (The Kingdoms Of Thorn And Bone) Start here

by Keyes, Greg

Keyes stunned the fantasy community with his phenomenal new high fantasy novel, The Briar King, a few years ago. This guy is a master of the English language. His writing is both witty and beautiful; sort of an Oscar...

Way Of The Wolf

by Knight, E.e.

Picture a dark, apocalyptic world set in the near future. A world conquered by vampiric aliens, where humans are kept as nothing more than feeding and breeding stock. This is not your normal post-apocalyptic novel. Kn...

Boreal Moon Trilogy

by May, Julian

A High fantasy series that's never gotten the love it deserves. I read this series a few years ago and was thoroughly addicted. Lots of politics, fighting, strange magic, and some pretty compelling characters. Recommende...

The Saga Of Recluce (The Saga Of Recluce) Start here

by Jr., L. E. Modesitt

The Saga of Reclucedescribes a constant war between order and chaos, and its magic system is a significant part of that. Where Order is present in the molecular bonds that make up the world, chaos stands for the destr...

Crown Of Stars (Crown Of Stars)

by Elliott, Kate

If there's one thing that can be taken from our own history, it's that that watching monarchies fight for and over power is fascinating. As long as you don't get your head chopped off in the process. It's this kind of in...

The Shadow Of Ararat (Oath Of Empire) Start here

by Harlan, Thomas

It is 600 AD and Rome has never fallen. The Roman Empire of the East will join the Roman Empire of the West to invade the inimical Persians who threaten the very gates of Constantinople itself. Featuring epic battles,...

On A Pale Horse (Incarnations Of Immortality) Start here

by Anthony, Piers

I'm not a fan of Piers Anthony in general (on a personal level I find the man utterly distasteful just read his blog for example and you'll find he's a racist, sexist, and has a disturbing fascination of young girls)....

The Eyes Of A God

by Marco, John

Very well written fantasy series. Expect the usual grey characterization endemic to all of John Marco's books. Read the other two sequels "Devil's Armor" and "Sword of Angels." Disappointed with the ending of it, but sti...

Weavers Of Saramyr

by Wooding, Chris

A fantasy series set in an elaborately detailed medieval Asian landscape. The book has two very well drawn female protagonists. These are some great fantasy books that don't get enough recognition. ItÃ's flawed work but...

Dragon Champion By Ee (Age Of Fire) Start here

by Knight, E.e.

The first book in the One of Age of Fire series told from a dragon's point of view, a dragon who just might be the last of his kind.

From the national bestselling and award-winning author of the Vampire Earth saga comes the first in a fantastic new series.

The War Of The Flowers

by Williams, Tad

For a Fair Tale well done, look no further than Tad Williams' The War of Flowers. It makes the classic 'man-goes-into-the-fairy-realm' tale proud. Williams is really a talented writer, having churned out Memory, Sorrow,...

Fortress Draconis (The Dragoncrown War Cycle)

by Stackpole, Michael A.

This High Fantasy series has gone under the radar for some reason. It's fantasy in the classic epic tradition. A band of heroes strives against an all-powerful sorceress. The most prominent feature in this four-book saga...

Newton's Cannon (The Age Of Unreason) Start here

by Keyes, J. Gregory

A world where the heroes of science are literally the masters of the world. Enter Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Newton, masters of the new science of…magic? The basic premise to this series is that Isaac Newton, instead of...

The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy (The Fionavar Tapestry)

by Kay, Guy Gavriel

In this trilogy some University of Toronto graduates are transported from a Celtic conference to a magical world where they must against the darkness.

Gavriel Kay's Fionavar is an ode to J.R.R. Tolkien, building on his life as an editorial assistant to his son, Christopher. Kay was instrumental in the publication of the legend's posthumous works, and the echoes of th...

His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire) Start here

by Novik, Naomi

This series explores a post-colonial world and both sides have their faults.

The Napoleonic Wars seem to be an especially fascinating era for writers; this series is the second on the list set in this time period at the turn of the 19th century. His Majesty's Dragon, the first in the Temeraire se...

Shadow Of The Lion

by Lackey, Mercedes

Rich and complex high fantasy, set in an alternate Venice. Somewhat slow, especially at the beginning, but a nice long read for that rainy day. Book gets very good if you stick with it. I'm generally not a fan of Lackey'...

Southern Fire (Aldabreshin Compass) Start here

by Mckenna, Juliet E.

This saga is a nice change from standard fantasy. It's set in a Mediterranean milieu -- rich, complex, and full of exotic mystery. Overall, a great read. British author McKenna, already known for her Tales of Einarinn se...

The Light Ages

by Macleod, Ian R.

A world that’s just on the cusp of the industrial revolution, but one not powered by electricity, but magic. It is aether, not electricity, that powers everything, from telegrams to clocks. However, for the most part, th...

The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword) Start here

by West, Michele

Epic in the tradition of Robert Jordan. The characters are well drawn, at the cost of the story's pacing. You will either love West or hate her style. If you are the type of person who likes characterization over fast pa...

In Legend Born

by Resnick, Laura

Outstanding characterization. Resnick really knows how to write realistic characters. Most of the characters are painted in shades of grey. Her plot is enticing, and after the first few chapters, moves along with the spe...