I recommend... - The Book Club Forum

Topic: I recommend...

I want to read a good fantasy book and I was wondering if anyone could recommend one.

~Marie Silver~

#1 Jan 20th 2007, 9:12am

M.R.Sanner

Fanatasy books ? Well if you don't mind young adult ( I personally think YA books are way more orginal then regualr adult books ::of course this goes fro some not for all :: )

Anything by Garth Nix ( his book plain rock !) especially The keys to the kingdom series , Rag Witch & The Abhorsen trilogy ( starts with Sabriel )

Tamora Peirce : Terrier , Lioness Quart , Trickster Choice & Tricksters Queen

Laurell K. Hamilton : Nightseer ( and if you want horror/erotica ( I swear it should be ni that section now ) Anita Blake series )

Terry Goodkind : Sword of Truth series .

thoose are all I can think of for right now .

#2 Jan 21st 2007, 7:41pm

Don't mind young adult at all.

Have read First Test by Tamora Peirce and I enjoyed that. I've also thought about getting Sabriel but I thought it was for children. Don't really know what it's about though. Tales of the Otori is a fantastic series if you're stuck for something to read. It's also young adult and set in Japan.

Thanks for the help, I'll stop by the library soon.

~Marie Silver~

#3 Jan 22nd 2007, 5:30am

M.R.Sanner

Hmm I wouldn't exactly call Sabriel for children , I thin it is to complex for children .Basically it is set in a strange world that is seprated by a wall one side of the wall is modern day-ish and the other is magic filled , and the wall keeps the amgic away from the modern dayside . Well this evil force trhatens both side of the wall so Sabriel who is a necromancer has to stop it .

#4 Jan 23rd 2007, 6:23pm

spiceymeatball

R.A. Salvatore had written some great fantasy / adventure books.

i would definitely recommend him if anyone is interested in reading a really nice novel. start with his icewind dale series or you can go with his hunters blades trilogy. if you go with the first, you will understand the latter better, but it is still cool all around

#5 Jan 29th 2007, 4:44pm

Is that the one with the elf Drizzl or something?

~Marie Silver~

#6 Jan 30th 2007, 6:14am

The Emotional Sponge

I love The Last Dragon Lord series. Monster Blood Tattoo is another good book.

#7 Feb 01st 2007, 1:45am

spiceymeatball

yeah, thats the one. his actual name is drizzt. but its a really cool series of books by salvatore. i just cant get enough of his panther friend. i believer her name is gwenhevar. i mite have spelled it wrong. but yeah, its really neat

#8 Feb 01st 2007, 9:38pm

Spirithunter

Guenhwyvar is amazing. I love... it... the books never actually discloses its gender, as far as I'm concerned...

The Chronicles of ANcient Darkness is a great series... Through Wolf's Eyes, The Keepers trilogy, both of the Warriors series, The Tower of Shadows, those are all good books. The last one is amazing--the level of detail is incredible, and the book is really good. The fact that it's going to be a series is a plus--so is the fact that is was reviewed positively by both R. A. Salvatore AND Terry Brooks (author of the Shannara books).

#9 Feb 04th 2007, 7:13pm

striped feather

Personally, I would recomend Terry Pratchett. "Guard!Guards" is one of his best and funniest books that he's written so far.

Also (I'm a little wary on this) "Joust" seems good. It mixes a fair bit of decent Egyptian culture and dragon mythology, I'd be wary of the last two books in the series however. It tends to get cliche after that.

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Charles de-Lint, there's a lot. Le Guin's a classic, in terms of fantasy writing.

#10 Feb 23rd 2007, 5:25am

CatScan12

James Clemens' The Banned and the Banished series. I absolutely love it! It's my favorite fantasy series ever! I don't know why more people haven't read them...the people I talk to haven't at least. I need to get new friends xD //if you plan on reading them you might want to skip this part// He makes you fall in love with his characters and just kills them off. And I was so involved in the world that it was truly gut wrenching when they died/turned evil.I got all five books in the series at the same time and read the first four in a week. I read the first few chapters of the fifth one and had to stop and take a break. He's the only writer that has made me gasp out loud at a plot twist. And the ending? I loved it! Usually things like that just make me roll my eyes, but as I said a more than a few times before, loved it!

It's an epic fantasy about a group of good guys of all different races trying to save the world from the big bad evil. I know it's been done a million times, but the banned and the banished just rules. Read it and be converted xD

#11 Feb 28th 2007, 11:36am

Greyfox Cowgirl

Everything seems to be a bit cliche these days, but the way an author takes a cliche idea and turns it into his or her own is the key. I personally recommend "Abarat" by Clive Barker (it has pretty illustrations too if you like books like that) and "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer.

"Abarat" is about a girl who just doesn't seem to fit in where she lives in her small town called Chickentown, and yes, that's what it's called. Then, after meeting a weird character near a field, she is transported to another "world" (I haven't read the second book in the series so I don't know if it's an actual other world or demension or whatever) where she has this crazy adventure across the islands of Abarat - 25 islands in all, one for each hour of the day and the 25th one to represent all time and its mysteriousness. It really is a great book even though it is written for teens.

"Twilight" seems like a pretty cliche book at first glance - girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy turns out to be her worst nightmare (or her best dream depending on the way you look at it). Plus it uses vampires, a topic used a lot these days. The difference is the way she goes through her tale (It's one of the first vampire books I have read written in first person, which was a slap in the face to me) and how her vampires behave (Her theory of vampires is well-developed and intriguing; you can tell she spent a lot of time on it.)

I hope this helps. Sorry if I got a little carried away, but one of my first questions when someone recommends a book is, "What is it about?" So I thought I'd answer that question before it was asked.

#12 Mar 07th 2007, 8:38am

striped feather

Oh, I've read thosetwo. Decent books.

#13 Mar 07th 2007, 2:58pm

Nykol

Charles de Lint is a wonderful author. I've only read "The Onion Girl" but i loved his style and would recommend it. if you want to try something a little different... "The Book of Flying" by Keith Miller is now on my at-the-moment-favorites list. I found it very unexpectedly tragic, but it was also a refreshing change from the usual sweet justice, full out revenge or other heroic novels I read. If you like the epic adventure thing, try "The Sword, The Ring and The Chalice" by Deborah Chester. it's light, sweet and funny(if you have twisted sarcastic humor like me...) Its told in a number of different POV's and the author makes her characters come alive. it's still on the top of my list as all time but sadly i wouldn’t recommend any other books i've read by her. though you have been given alot of good options for books and must have a lot of reading ahead of you, i just thought i'd add some more. :P

#14 Mar 08th 2007, 5:11pm

shadows of suburbia

I'd recommend anything by Laurie J. Marks. She is a severely under-rated author in my opinion. her Children of the Triad and Logic series are fantastic, and the worlds she creates are so unique!

#15 Apr 04th 2007, 1:57pm

Tranquil Thorns

I recommend Juliet Marillier's work, especially Daughter of the Forest and the rest of the Sevenwaters Trilogy.

I think her writing style is really powerful. (:

#16 Apr 04th 2007, 3:51pm

A.R. O'Neal

I've read that the Gormenghast series by Mervin Peake is probably the greatest the fantasy genre has ever produced. I want to get my hands on a copy of all three books (it's not really a cliche trilogy, BTW, it's just that the author died before he got done with the life and death of the main character, Titus. All books are complete, though.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gormenghast

#17 Apr 18th 2007, 8:13pm

Rebelistic

'Witch Dreams' and 'Companions Of The Night' are good books, by Vivian Vande Velde. Also, as I saw above, 'Twilight/New Moon' and Ameila Atwater Rhodes' books are really good, too.

I'm in love with the 'Vampire Twins' series, and the name says it all, mostly. Or, Secret Circle. You could also do a search on 'L.G Smith', or 'R.L Stine' and come up with a LOT of great fantasy books, too!

#18 Apr 20th 2007, 7:42pm

striped feather

Try 'Darkangel'. Pierce created a very unique fantasy world in her series. Plus, it's one of those dark fairy tales told in old traditional verse, though there are a lot of Mckinley fantasy elements in it as well as the smallest hint of sci-fi. It's a different, more fey-esque take on vampires and Greek myths.

VVV, "Companions of the Night" and "Dragon's Bait" were the ones I really enjoyed by her.

I haven't read Vampire Twins, gotta buy it sometime...

Anything else new?

#19 Apr 20th 2007, 10:17pm

Phoenix-fire11

Ok so i was lazy and only read your guys for post, sorry abou that. But when it comes to fantasy I would recomend the Simmarilain. I didn't spell it right but you might be able to find it becuase J.R tolken wrote. (the best ever author!) It's really good but it can get slow so get it on tape. Simmerilain is for adult but onther book of his is Roverandom. GReat book! It's really cute and i read it a long time ago so . . . uh my memery of it might be based on a younger mind but still read it! I would completely recomend Watership Down by Richard Adams. That is my FAVIOTE book! Its not about the ocean or anything but its about bunnies! It not kiddes at all though. If you watch LOST the tv show than its the book that Sawer reads. And my last comment is the hobbit! My second favoite book by J.R tolken again! I love books and if a was allowed to get to non fanatsy books this post would be bigger but there you go!

#20 Apr 25th 2007, 5:50pm

spiceymeatball

oh yeah!!! i love that book. its the one with hazel and the rest of the rabbits that are trying to form a new home for themselves because hazels lil brother had a vision that something bad was going to happen.

that is like one of my favorite stories also =

its an excellent book if anyone else is looking for something to read during their spare time

#21 Apr 26th 2007, 6:40pm

Just for information's sake, I believe it's first mentioned in "Siege of Darkness" that Guenhwyvar is female. I think he first described it in the short story "Guenhwyvar" which appears in the anthology "Realms of Magic".

#22 May 23rd 2007, 9:31pm

Girlbrainiac

R.A. Salvatore had written some great fantasy / adventure books.

Ack! Are you kidding me?! The Dark Elf trilogy and Legacy of the Drow! Then "The Silent Blade" and "Servant of the Shard". If you want a little more background for Legacy of the Drow and those following, then read The Icewind Dale trilogy.

And yes, Guenwhyvar is female. Even if it didn't specifically state it, the name should have given it away.

Now, for your summer reading, "Fortress in the Eye of Time" by C.J. Cherryh. One of the best fantasy books, and series, I've read in quite a while.

Howl's Moving Castle by... Ack! Why can't I remember her name!? My mind is drawing A blank...

Girlbrainiac

#23 Jun 02nd 2007, 12:56pm . Edited Jun 02nd 2007, 12:59pm

I'd recommend "Blood River Down" by Lionel Fenn simply for its amusement value. Also, I've heard very good things about China Meiville's Perdido Street Station books.

#24 Jun 03rd 2007, 11:47am

A lot of my favorite authors have already been named here, but I think I can add a few more. Robin McKinley is absolutely one of my favorite authors. Really, anything she's written, from her original stuff to her Beauty and the Beast retellings and her version of Robin Hood. She's even written a more adult-oriented novel about vampires, called Sunshine. She never fails me.

Also, I have loved Diana Wynne Jones since I was a little kid. Her books tend to be more on the children/juvenile fiction end of things, but don't let that stop you.

Orson Scott Card must also be mentioned. Ender's Game is one of my favorite books. He can be science fiction/fantasy if that's more to your liking.

#25 Jun 13th 2007, 12:27pm

Also, I have loved Diana Wynne Jones since I was a little kid. Her books tend to be more on the children/juvenile fiction end of things, but don't let that stop you.

Orson Scott Card must also be mentioned. Ender's Game is one of my favorite books. He can be science fiction/fantasy if that's more to your liking.

#26 Jun 13th 2007, 12:28pm

I'd recommend Olivia Butler's Wild Seed, though I'm not certain it would classify as fantasy.

#27 Jun 14th 2007, 6:29pm

IanOsmond

His Dark Materials by philip pullman (golden compass, subtle knife, amber spyglass). alright, im only actually reading the second one right now, but they are fantastic books. they have some incredibly interesting ideas and very well-defined charactors. It deals with parallel universes, the existance of souls and God, yet doesnt lay too heavy.

#28 Jun 17th 2007, 8:31am

Girlbrainiac

Am I the only one that DIDN'T like His Dark Materials? I made myself read through to part of the third book, but since it didn't get any better there, I stopped reading because I couldn't go on any longer.

I'll admit that some of the characters were kind of interesting, but he laid his ideas out so thick that I felt like I was being lectured to. I do not agree with him on several points, and after slogging through most of his books, reading them and their blatantly Anti-Christian message, I couldn't stand any more.

Girlbrainiac

#29 Jun 17th 2007, 12:11pm

Miriam Doyle

I thought His Dark Materials was a wonderful series. I don't know why everyone gets so fussed about the atheism thing. They're just books. Good books, at that. Oh, and the first one is called Northern Lights, not The Golden Compass. Darned movie people, dumbing it down....

#30 Jun 17th 2007, 1:18pm

Miriam Doyle

On a more on-topic note, I would highly recommend the Discworld series, the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (a trilogy of five xD) and, if you want something light and fun, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series is excellent. They're slightly kiddy, but the humour is brilliant and the characters well thought out and ingenious. The books follow the adventures of Percy Jackson, an ordinary New York kid who finds out the Ancient Greek gods are still alive and kicking, and so are the monsters and villains, of course. I'm a huge fan... @_@

#31 Jun 17th 2007, 1:25pm

actually, I think the name of the first book in "His Dark Materials" just depends on where you get it. I think it's one of those dealies where they change the name when they print the book in another country. like "harry potter and the philosopher's stone" vs. "harry potter and the sorcerer's stone."

#32 Jun 17th 2007, 7:08pm

IanOsmond

yes, golden compass is the north american title, which is where im from. so please, im not a "darned movie person". and im only half way through the second book and everything is still really a myustery so i havent seen any anti-christian stuff yet. but yeah, tis just a book, im not going to take that stuff to seriously. so far its anti-church, as in organized religion, which is quite different.

#33 Jun 17th 2007, 9:27pm

Miriam Doyle

I didn't mean by 'darned movie people' as people who had seen the movie then read the book, I meant the people who made the movie itself. It just annoyed me when they called the movie The Golden Compass whereas where I'm from it's called Northern Lights. It just felt..dumbed down in some way. But thanks for pointing out the printing thing; I'd almost forgotten the first HP book was called the Sorceror's Stone. But what was wrong with philosopher, anyway? Oh well...

#34 Jun 18th 2007, 7:40am

I'm reading Talyn by Holly Lisle at the moment and I have to say it's a fantastically well developed book. The languages and the cultures of the Tonks and the Eastils feel like they're actual people. And having a Tonk and Eastil main character juxtaposes the cultures and each of the character's believes they're in the eight and the other person is wrong which makes a difference from having the good guys and the bad guys.

I haven't finished the book yet but I would definetly recommend it.

~Marie Silver~

#35 Jun 18th 2007, 10:38am

Here's a theory about why they called it "Sorcerer's Stone" in America--most of the people in America understand the word "sorcerer's stone" much better than they understand the un-obscure reference of "Philosopher's Stone."

That's my take on it.

#36 Jun 18th 2007, 6:18pm

Estrella Drage

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

and anything else Shannara, LOTR is also good if you haven't read that one.

#37 Jun 28th 2007, 10:08pm

E. Knight

Never Dream by Scott Charles Adams is one of my favorite vampire novels. I'm sure you've read Twilight & New Moon by Stephenie Meyers, but if not, I strongly recommend them. And if you have read them, August 7th, Eclipse comes out.

#38 Jul 19th 2007, 5:48pm

Spirithunter

I like anything and everything by David Clement-Davies. He's mostly known for his animal stories, The Sight and Fire Bringer. Fire Bringer is about a red deer herd taken over by the equivalent of an evil dictator, who Rannoch goes tries to escape from, as he is the one in the prophecy. The Sight is about a wolf pack that is cursed by Morgra, and the pack makes to flee their territories and so escape the curse. On the way, the wolf Larka discovers that she has a special power , and Morgra is after her, trying to get Larka to join her cause or even kill her. The sequel, Fell, is coming out in a few months.

#39 Jul 19th 2007, 10:35pm