Fantasy Novels You Might Not Have Read

[Soviet Heavy]

It's a fairly goo bet that if you've read a fantasy novel in your life, you are at least aware of the big contenders like Lord of the Rings, or Discworld, or Wheel of Time, or A Song of Ice and Fire.

However, there are plenty more gems that go unnoticed by the crowd at large, catering to more niche audiences. This is the place to discuss and recommend fantasy series others might not have heard of.

I present to you The Belgariad. A five book series written by David Eddings with this concept: Take the most derivative plot possible, and make it entertaining regardless. What we get is the bog standard "Farmboy becomes savior by finding magic plot device to save the world from an evil empire."

It's also absolutely hilarious. The characters are bleedingly aware of just how silly and trite their situation is. They lampshade and mock the character beats and plot points that appear in just about every such book, and the go ahead and do them with gusto. The series is a load of fun, since it reads like a bunch of genre savvy readers got thrown into your standard fantasy template and just decided to have fun.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[theravensclaw]

Everdark Realms is a new series thats just started that i think is cool

 

[Noetherian]

Ah, so that's what those are. Sounds intriguing...

I recommend Robin McKinley's fantasy novels (The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown), which were two of my childhood favorites. The world combines some familiar elements in a way that's unique in my experience-- there are also strong, interesting female protagonists without marriage being a major plot point (instead, we get magical armor and castle sacking).

 

[Raijha]

Most anything written by Terry Brooks is pretty awesome. Specifically the Word and the Void trilogy which somewhat ties into his Shanara stuff. Iunno if that counts as obscure enough.

But yea, the David Eddings that I read were pretty good, but I don't think I managed to get through the whole series.

Also anything involving Pern by Anne Mccaffrey (sp?) Those were amazing books as well.

And despite being mostly for kids, the Ga'hoole books were fairly entertaining.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

One thing I should mention. While David Eddings makes good series, their sequels are usually crap. The Mallorean is just a rehash of the Belgariad, same as the sequel to Sparhawk.

 

[JaceArveduin]

The Noble Warriors Trilogy is a fun series.

The Stoneheart Trilogy is another good one.

 

[categorical]

Terry Brooks? David Eddings?

Sorry I had to step in, things are getting out of hand in here ^^.

Try these for size:

- The Chronicles of Amber - Roger Zelazny
Alternate shadow realities mirror a true reality, we follow princes of Amber in various insanities.

- The Prince of Nothing - Scott Bakker
Liked Dune? Try it.

- The First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie
If you haven't read this series / author, I am so sorry and so envious at the same time =p.

- Best Served Cold / The Heroes - Joe Abercrombie
Genius.

- The Black Company - Glen Cook
Pretty stock stuff, decent writing style, also pretty out there.

- Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson
Not my cup o tea, but some people are diehards.

- The Kingkiller Chronicle - Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind has got to be one of the best fantasy novels out there. Weak follow up though.

Personally I find that most things pale in the face of Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" in terms of sheer fun. Nowadays, Abercrombie is the best out there, especially given the dismal showing of Martin for his 5th book we waited 5 years for.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Someone could read Lye Street and Scar Night by Alan Campbell. However I don't entirely recommend reading the next 2 books in the series unless you get off on disjointed stories and disappointment...oh crap, this was supposed to be a recommendation.
First two books are good!

 

[Rawne1980]

David Gemmell wrote some great books.

Druss the Legend, Waylander, Swords of Night and Day, Troy, Lion of Macedon and the Jon Shannow books.

I don't think I ever read a bad book by him.

 

[A Distant Star]

China Mievilles Bas-Lag books. Holly shit, Perdido Street Station has the saddest ending I have ever read in any book regardless of genre.

 

[Blunderboy]

David Gemmell wrote some great books.

Druss the Legend, Waylander, Swords of Night and Day, Troy, Lion of Macedon and the Jon Shannow books.

I don't think I ever read a bad book by him.

First, I get ninja'd by the OP, now you do it. This just isn't on.

Depending on your definition of fantasy, I'd highly recommend the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It may not have dwarves and elves, but it's a huge sprawling saga with great characters and a heroes quest for the nexus of all things.
Our hero may be packing six shooters instead of a broad sword, but trust me, it's amazing.

 

[SckizoBoy]

China Mievilles Bas-Lag books. Holly shit, Perdido Street Station has the saddest ending I have ever read in any book regardless of genre.

Yah, but great book, nonetheless. Rather transcends genres, China Mieville... :/

OT: Ian Irvine (Well of Tears etc.) Fucking soul-destroying stuff, but you kind of can't stop reading it.

 

[A Distant Star]

I am also in the process of reading Tad Williams Shadowmarch books. Nothing revolutionary as far as world or plot go. (There are hints of something really interesting that I hope he will explore further in later books) But it works on the strength of it's characters, all of whom seem really fully fleshed and real.

 

[Cowabungaa]

- The Kingkiller Chronicle - Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind has got to be one of the best fantasy novels out there. Weak follow up though.

Really? I thought it was at least as good as the first book. Although I did wish it to hurry up a couple of times.

Other than that I completely vouch for this series. It's my favourite fantasy series to date, few books have really immersed me as much as that series did.

 

[Mr Mystery Guest]

I'm old enough to have read all the choose your own adventure books. They should be brought back. Denver & Chalk series and everything Steve Jackson wrote. Appointment with F.E.A.R anyone?

Also Yahtzee's first book Mogworld is brilliant. The fantasy genre can take itself too seriously sometimes but this is dripping with satire.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Someone could read Lye Street and Scar Night by Alan Campbell. However I don't entirely recommend reading the next 2 books in the series unless you get off on disjointed stories and disappointment...oh crap, this was supposed to be a recommendation.
First two books are good!

My first read-through made me sooo confused ..it went from gothic horror to fantasy to steampunk to surrealism to time travel.

once I wrapped my head around what it was and what it wasn't, I reread all three and I have to say I really enjoyed the later books.

I have not read Lye Street yet though, which I guess I should do now =)

 

[Trivun]

China Mievilles Bas-Lag books. Holly shit, Perdido Street Station has the saddest ending I have ever read in any book regardless of genre.

Yah, but great book, nonetheless. Rather transcends genres, China Mieville... :/

OT: Ian Irvine (Well of Tears etc.) Fucking soul-destroying stuff, but you kind of can't stop reading it.

I came into this thread solely to recommend Ian Irvine, only to find myself beaten to it. And I thought I was the only person on this site to have read those? I certainly feel sometimes like the only person in the UK to have read the series, after all.

To give a bit more info for those who are woefully unaware of this great series, its full name is the Three Worlds Cycle. Starts with the View From The Mirror Quartet:

A Shadow On The Glass
The Tower On The Rift
Dark Is The Moon
The Way Between The Worlds

Continues with the Well Of Echoes Quartet, set roughly 200 years later:

Geomancer
Tetrarch
Alchymist (Scrutator in Australia/New Zealand IIRC)
Chimera

And ends with the Song Of The Tears Trilogy, set exactly ten years even later:

Fate Of The Fallen
The Curse On The Chosen
The Destiny Of The Dead

There's also an upcoming trilogy, The Fate Of The Children, that takes place not long after the first quartet (and it's implied, without spoiling anything, that events will also take place there following the end of the final trilogy). That has yet to be started though, given Ian Irvine is currently writing another fantasy series that I intend to pick up just as soon as I finish reading both the Myst Reader trilogy, and Mogworld. There are also various sci-fi/fantasy stories by Irvine that I haven't looked at, but have heard good stuff about. All in all, he's definitely worth a read . Not to mention, I'm such a fan of the Three Worlds books that I'm almost an expert on all aspects of the series and the three worlds of the title. I dare anyone to ask a question and see if I can't answer it fully

 

[kyuzo3567]

Depending on your definition of fantasy, I'd highly recommend the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It may not have dwarves and elves, but it's a huge sprawling saga with great characters and a heroes quest for the nexus of all things.
Our hero may be packing six shooters instead of a broad sword, but trust me, it's amazing.

I loved the hell out of that series... and the end was amazing in my opinion... I almost picked them up to read again as soon as I finished.

There have been a few good authors recommended that I've read, so I'll just add Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I know alot of people complain about the later books being filled with him just spouting his philosophy and political views... but you gotta focus on the overall story and block those people out

Edit: Also the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander... First and only time I ever cried when a series ended, to be fair I was in grade 6 but still... I love those books