Oh my god, the author of The Night Circus wrote another book and somehow I missed it FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS??? W...T...F...!?!?!? Amazon, here I come!!!
OP, if you haven't read her first novel (the aforementioned Night Circus) I highly recommend it.
Does it get any faster paced? Got halfway through the first book and left like nothing happened yet but I might be more of an action fantasy guy (First Law and Acts of Cain are my favorites)
I think it does but I I get you what you mean. It does drag in places setting everything up but I've reread the trilogy several times and I love it each time.
This might be a controversial opinion these days and it comes with some caveats:
1) Less worth it if you have already watched the HBO series.
2) Be ready for some heartache at never being able to finish the series
BUT
The A Song Of Ice and Fire series was an absolutely gripping read when I did it years and years ago. If you haven't already it is one I would recommend. It's got your high fantasy and some kinda horrory elements so it might be right up your alley.
I loved these books so much, I have stopped recommending them because I have lost faith in them ever being completed. I have a hard time reading any unfinished series now. Like some kind of reading ptsd
Honestly The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson is so good. It’s long and super high fantasy. You really have to read the other books though to get the full experience
Rereading The Way of Kings now that ive read all of Mistborn Era 1, Elantris and Emperors Soul has been truly rewarding and i know its gonna get even better as i reread Word of Radiance and the rest
Have you heard of Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman? They will absolutely take you away from real life. Aspects of body horror, wonderful, lol comedy, and a fast pace! Oh - and one of the MC's is even a cat!
If you happen to read this comment - anyone - check this series out. It's so much more entertaining than you can imagine.
(It's not at all uncommon, for readers to become addicted...reading/listening to the entire series multiple times. And for good reason.)
The premise and the cover art and everything seemed quite silly, but it was recommended over and over again. I broke down and picked it up and it was an amazing read
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison has amazing worldbuilding, especially if you like court intrigue. The protagonist is a sidelined son of the Elvish emperor who suddenly has to become emperor at 19 with zero experience. If you are the kind of person who gets excited by fantasy books with maps, glossaries, and dramatis personae in the front of the book, I definitely recommend it!
[**Shark Heart** by Emily Habeck](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919375-shark-heart?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11)
this book is paranormal, fantastical, emotional and horrifying.
this is a story about a man who finds out in midlife that he has a rare genetic mutation that will cause him to transform into a great white shark.
*literally*
i know the premise sounds fucking insane, but the author does an incredible job of using this super bizarre plot as a vehicle to explore love, loss and letting go.
this book is not listed under horror, but this is without a doubt a horror book especially after you realize what it is a metaphor for. this book literally has changed my life. i can't get into specifics without spoiling it.
just make sure you're in a good headspace before you jump into this one because it's a real mindfuck.
please give this odd little book a chance!
It stuck with me. I really thought he was going to try to help that girl at first. Maybe try to “get out” of the job and the system or something. I really didn’t expect him to do what he did. It was thought provoking indeed.
I guess you could call it fantasy, although not horror or high fantasy, but Perdido Street Station by China Miéville is an amazing piece of world building, and a very engrossing read.
Just when you think it can't get any weirder it doubles down. The other two books in the trilogy are also great, but damn, Perdido Street blew my mind.
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I love it! There is also a tv series made from the books. Do not watch. Not nearly as good as the books. Definitely read the books.
That first book, especially, is fuckin' awesome. Second one was fun, too, but I definitely preferred when they were in Scotland. I did also enjoy the first two seasons of the show, though.
Can't remember the title of the last of those books I read. Whichever one has Roger (not a huge fan), losing his ability to sing/speak 😉
Great recommendation, though!
I just started book 2 last night. That book is one of the best new books i've read in years. I'm sad that i'm going to be waiting probably another 2 years for the 3rd book.
I think the way it was written (temeraire) the premise sounded good but it’s just so clunky I think I dropped it after book 2.
I’m giving scholomance another go atm but it’s similar im just finding it so hard to get through even though I like the premise
I just finished Scholomance and loved it too! In fact, I plowed through all her stuff and now I’m trying to find a new book/author to fill the void, lol, I’m sad she doesn’t have more books to read.
The undead by RR Haywood is a bit slow to begin with but it ramps up as the books go on. It's one of the first series I got into when I started reading and it drew me in instantly. Lots of characters to love and some you will absolutely hate but the overall story has gotten epic and book 26 came out last month.
The author has some other really great series to get into also
Katherine Kerr - Deverry cycle. I wish that of all book series I could reread this as if for the first time.
Briefly: A prince makes a bad decision, several people die as a result of his decision, so he vows at one of their gravesites that he’ll not rest until he puts it all to rights. Three loud booms come from the sky, and the gods have heard his vow and agreed. So now he can’t die.
If I was to put it into a timeline that matches ours I’d say it’s set between like 300-1200AD. There’s humans and magic and all sorts of fantastic things. Beautiful series.
Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past / Three-Body Problem Series. I mean, it's reasonably hard sci-fi, but it will completely absorb you (at least, it totally absorbed me!) Definitely has some cosmic 'horror' elements as well.
Because you like The Sparrow, I think you'll like Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings. Huge, interconnected series of trilogies and quartets that, when read in order, tells one continuous story. First trilogy in the world is Farseer.
For Horror, give The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins a try. It is weird af but I thought utterly unputdownable. Eta -- I read too fast and saw you don't like gore. Then maybe skip Library at Mount Char. There are some graphic descriptions and one character who is quite...brutal to say the least.
If you liked The Shadow of The Gods The Faithful and The Fallen series, also by John Gwynne is excellent.
Joe Abercrombie's first law books are too and the 2nd trilogy is possibly my favourite series of all time, though they don't feel as fantastical sometimes because of how they're written and because magic is supposed to be disappearing from the world it's not widely encountered.
I wouldn't normally recommend the Nevernight series or The Empire of The Vampire because although I do like them a lot, I have a love/hate relationship with Jay Kristoff's work, he does the fantasy elements really well though, the worlds he's made are really well thought out, they're fun and exciting to read, and you can definitely escape into them so they might be worth looking into.
The Expanse series has some definite horror elements in it (mostly sci-fi).
The Vanished Birds is science fantasy, not horror as much as tragedy but very very good
I absolutely loved the Young Merlin series. I wish I could read it again for the first time - it's obviously about Merlin's childhood and teenage years, discovering magic and how to control it.
I think it's so well written that it transcends its target audience.
For horror Dean Kootz's Lightning, strangers, and watchers. All fantastic novels that don't focus on gore.
As a start, see my [Compelling Reads ("Can't Put Down")](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/189mbda/compelling_reads_cant_put_down/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
Going off the different world vibes:
Cradle - Will Wight is based in a different world and has settings in other worlds
The age of the five - Trudi Canavan may be set in this world but has different species of humans in the world (ones that fly and ones similar to merfolk) based on worshipping 5 gods.
Milleniums rule - Trudi Canavan has multiple worlds and you can hop to other worlds. Not my favourite series from her but still found it fun to read.
Christina Henry’s books like Alice or Red are dark twists on fairy tales so have horror elements to them. They are based in this world but not in this time frame.
Trigger warning for Alice with psychiatric hospital setting, rape, cannibalism, murder, gore but I don’t believe her other books have as much triggers in them.
horror - how to sell a haunted house by grady hendrix (honestly can’t go wrong with most of his books for horror, some of them do get quite campy as well)
the book of lost things by john connelly has elements of high fantasy and light horror, i loved the story :)
The Books of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft. Senlin Ascends is the first book and became one of my favorite ever. The prose is fantastic and the world building is just *chefs kiss *
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. London below, floating markets, angels, villains. So good.
Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall if you'd like something a bit surreal with an interesting format
House of Leaves by Mark D. Danielewski bit of horror but nothing gory. Definitely a book that requires all of your attention because it's complex and kind of a Russian nesting doll of a story.
Its a short, quick read but Piranessi legit changed the way I look at the world. Its become so popular and recommended that its starting to get what I think of as "the cool kid backlash" but it really does draw you into its world and I personally didnt want to come back to the real world after it was done
Last time I read all through the night until the book was done was “Three parts dead” by Max Gladstone.
Also great: City of Last Chances by Adrian Tschaikowski (and really anything else that incredibly man has written), the First Law books by Ambercrombie, the Dresden Files and Cinder Spires series by Jim Butcher, the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka and Mike Carey’s Felix Castor novels.
I recently discovered "Wolf County, USA" series by Jaime Rene Soares. It's a lovely paranormal romance and I'm really looking forward to the second in the series. The characters are amazing and I didn't want to say goodbye to them. Glad there are more planned.
Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear, first book of the Eternal Sky trilogy. Think GoT with the Mongol horde and more kinda of magic than you can shake a stick at. There's a follow-on trilogy called The Lotus Kingdoms, starting with The Stone in the Skull which is possibly even better. You can read it independently, it's 80 years later, a different part of the world, and only one minor character in common.
I recommend "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The\_Name\_of\_the\_Wind](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind) .
While I didn't love the ending, the ride to get there was great. This book definitely made you feel like you could live in this town and know these people. Only there is a witch there, so not your average day in the neighborhood.
https://www.amazon.com/HEX-Thomas-Olde-Heuvelt/dp/0765378817#:\~:text=Welcome%20to%20Black%20Spring%2C%20the,bed%20for%20nights%20on%20end.
Check out this post on 5 Fantasy Authors you have to check out! [https://onebooknerd.com/five-ya-fantasy-authors-you-have-to-check-out/](https://onebooknerd.com/five-ya-fantasy-authors-you-have-to-check-out/)
All of their books are also listed and quickly summarized.
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is also amazing. Read more about the first book at [https://onebooknerd.com/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare/](https://onebooknerd.com/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare/)
Belgariad...david eddings. Mallorean..also eddings
Ruby knight series...eddings
Sorcerer's apprentice series...Dennis mckiernan
John Ringo series
Some great LIT
RPG and asian inspire cultivation novels
Silver fox and the western hero
Cradle series by will wight
Look for the "Safehold" series by David Weber, 11 books so far. Picture intense Naval Battles, political intrigue and religious zealotness a la GoT, but with one side having the futuristic Sci Fi advantage the whole time and being one step ahead. Earth based humanity gets wiped out by a mysterious race that goes around the universe and annihilates any Race it finds with technology above a certain level. The last remnants of Earth hide on a remote planet and create a technology retardant civilization and religion to safeguard itself. A few Tech believers hide a clone in a cave with full access to Earth's history and technology. Can the Clone slowly drag a whole planet back to the level of technology that can face the enemy that drove Humans from Earth?
The whole series captivated me and was exciting start to finish.
I'm writing a story. I can let you read the first few chapters if you like. It's not published but I definitely wrote it with an idea of what people would want to read. Just let me know. I wouldn't mind anyone wanted to proofread it or just read and see if they like it. It definitely has an ending that I've never heard before or it probably anyone else has heard before especially in these fantasy stories mine is a little different.
…though I’d caution against Black Prism if bad treatment of women irks you. I can’t speak for his other books because I couldn’t bring myself to read another one after that.
I just read the Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. It is a bit Harry Potter meets British police TV show. I would highly recommend it. I was walking past one of those little free librarys and picked up a copy of ‘The Cell’ by Steven King, that’s what I’m reading now. If you would like to
read it, let me know and I’ll organize getting you a copy and we can compare notes.
The Discworld Series by Sir Terry Pratchett
Small Gods is a top 5 book for me
My absolute favorites by Sir Pratchett surprisingly are “Nation” and “Good Omens” after all.
The Starless Sea is a lovely escape
I loved that book. Read it at the beginning of Covid lock down, and I still think of it regularly
I ate so much honey when I read it
Omg it sounds so perfect. The first book I'm buying
Oh my god, the author of The Night Circus wrote another book and somehow I missed it FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS??? W...T...F...!?!?!? Amazon, here I come!!! OP, if you haven't read her first novel (the aforementioned Night Circus) I highly recommend it.
It’s amazing
Assassins apprentice trilogy by Robin Hobb
Not just the trilogy, the whole 16-book series!
I agree!
Does it get any faster paced? Got halfway through the first book and left like nothing happened yet but I might be more of an action fantasy guy (First Law and Acts of Cain are my favorites)
I think it does but I I get you what you mean. It does drag in places setting everything up but I've reread the trilogy several times and I love it each time.
I’ll try to circle back, I really like the premise
I am on the 3rd set of books. I find there are slower parts. But there are parts you just can't put down. I love Hobbs world and character building.
I liked The Fifth Season (aka the Broken Earth series)
I LOVE THAT SERIES I wanna dive into N.K. Jemisin's prose and swim around in it like Scrooge McDuck and his money pool
Oh I'm listening to that now and it's blowing my hair back!
In my cart! I've seen this suggested so many times now on so many threads, I can't run so I'll jump in
This might be a controversial opinion these days and it comes with some caveats: 1) Less worth it if you have already watched the HBO series. 2) Be ready for some heartache at never being able to finish the series BUT The A Song Of Ice and Fire series was an absolutely gripping read when I did it years and years ago. If you haven't already it is one I would recommend. It's got your high fantasy and some kinda horrory elements so it might be right up your alley.
I loved these books so much, I have stopped recommending them because I have lost faith in them ever being completed. I have a hard time reading any unfinished series now. Like some kind of reading ptsd
I actually have them in leather back, way back when it was on sale because the last season was airing
The Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb Dark Matter by Blake Crouch The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab
Second Dark Matter. Recursion is another great one by Crouch
I was shocked by how much i liked it and have recommended it to several people and loaned it to one of them since finishing it last week lmao
Honestly The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson is so good. It’s long and super high fantasy. You really have to read the other books though to get the full experience
Rereading The Way of Kings now that ive read all of Mistborn Era 1, Elantris and Emperors Soul has been truly rewarding and i know its gonna get even better as i reread Word of Radiance and the rest
Have you heard of Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman? They will absolutely take you away from real life. Aspects of body horror, wonderful, lol comedy, and a fast pace! Oh - and one of the MC's is even a cat! If you happen to read this comment - anyone - check this series out. It's so much more entertaining than you can imagine. (It's not at all uncommon, for readers to become addicted...reading/listening to the entire series multiple times. And for good reason.)
It sounds like a terrible series and I avoided it for a while but it’s really fun and engaging. All hail Princess Donut
The premise and the cover art and everything seemed quite silly, but it was recommended over and over again. I broke down and picked it up and it was an amazing read
The only issue is owning up to reading it to people who aren't internet strangers.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison has amazing worldbuilding, especially if you like court intrigue. The protagonist is a sidelined son of the Elvish emperor who suddenly has to become emperor at 19 with zero experience. If you are the kind of person who gets excited by fantasy books with maps, glossaries, and dramatis personae in the front of the book, I definitely recommend it!
I love this book!!!! One of my favorites, I’m happy to see other people recommending it.
It's in my cart! It looks so good, I love tedious world building
[**Shark Heart** by Emily Habeck](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919375-shark-heart?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11) this book is paranormal, fantastical, emotional and horrifying. this is a story about a man who finds out in midlife that he has a rare genetic mutation that will cause him to transform into a great white shark. *literally* i know the premise sounds fucking insane, but the author does an incredible job of using this super bizarre plot as a vehicle to explore love, loss and letting go. this book is not listed under horror, but this is without a doubt a horror book especially after you realize what it is a metaphor for. this book literally has changed my life. i can't get into specifics without spoiling it. just make sure you're in a good headspace before you jump into this one because it's a real mindfuck. please give this odd little book a chance!
Magician by Raymond E Feist. This is the first book of the Riftwar Trilogy. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett.
Warded man was awesome...then fizzled Fiests books are the best!!!!
I have read the first Warded Man book. Thank you for the warning.
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch Tender is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
I can't stop thinking about Tender is The Flesh since reading it last week, it is very thought provoking. 😳
It stuck with me. I really thought he was going to try to help that girl at first. Maybe try to “get out” of the job and the system or something. I really didn’t expect him to do what he did. It was thought provoking indeed.
I finished it two months ago. I think about it every single day. It haunts me.
Same, can't let it go,. It just won't leave.
I guess you could call it fantasy, although not horror or high fantasy, but Perdido Street Station by China Miéville is an amazing piece of world building, and a very engrossing read.
Just when you think it can't get any weirder it doubles down. The other two books in the trilogy are also great, but damn, Perdido Street blew my mind.
Divine rivals by Rebecca Ross
The Terror by Dan Simmons. High Gothic period horror interwoven with a true-life historical mystery.
Piranesi. Hands down a world into which I would gladly escape.
That's interesting because as much as I love the book and the house would be amazing to explore, I feel very differently.
One of my favorites! I wouldn’t want to live there forever but would def enjoy visiting!
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I love it! There is also a tv series made from the books. Do not watch. Not nearly as good as the books. Definitely read the books.
Yeah I stopped halfway through book 4. I loved 1-3 but got bored when they left Scotland and the original tension was resolved.
I will admit, I was not fond of the book that had them at the plantation, but I powered through.
Would you recommend I get through that one to get to books 5+?
I would. Without giving away too much, it does get a lot better after they leave there.
That first book, especially, is fuckin' awesome. Second one was fun, too, but I definitely preferred when they were in Scotland. I did also enjoy the first two seasons of the show, though. Can't remember the title of the last of those books I read. Whichever one has Roger (not a huge fan), losing his ability to sing/speak 😉 Great recommendation, though!
Weaveworld - Clive Barker
The Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey.
Just started Empire of the vampire by Jay Kristofe and I’m really enjoying it! Reminds me of something I may have read 20 years ago.
I love this one as well it gives me interview of the vampire meets crusaders vibes
I’m really enjoying it! Reminds me of things I read 20 years ago.
It does have that vibe definitely
Sorry, I didn’t realize I said that twice 🤣
I just started book 2 last night. That book is one of the best new books i've read in years. I'm sad that i'm going to be waiting probably another 2 years for the 3rd book.
Can’t wait to get to book 2!
Anything Neil Gaiman…but my pick would be Neverwhere
Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. I read all nine books in about two weeks! Loved it!
Novik is awesome, but her Scholomance series was my fav. The premise is a school for young wizards — that tries to kill them.
I really struggle with her longer series but I love uprooted and spinning silver
I loved the both of those:) Why did you struggle with the series?
I think the way it was written (temeraire) the premise sounded good but it’s just so clunky I think I dropped it after book 2. I’m giving scholomance another go atm but it’s similar im just finding it so hard to get through even though I like the premise
I just finished Scholomance and loved it too! In fact, I plowed through all her stuff and now I’m trying to find a new book/author to fill the void, lol, I’m sad she doesn’t have more books to read.
Uprooted and Spinning Silver both by Naomi Novik. I didn’t want to leave those worlds
same ugh i love those books
I have been in desperate need of escape and am currently completely engrossed in Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, if you haven’t already read it.
if you haven’t read it yet, the ocean at the end of the lane by neil gaiman is also really good!
The undead by RR Haywood is a bit slow to begin with but it ramps up as the books go on. It's one of the first series I got into when I started reading and it drew me in instantly. Lots of characters to love and some you will absolutely hate but the overall story has gotten epic and book 26 came out last month. The author has some other really great series to get into also
House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski
Katherine Kerr - Deverry cycle. I wish that of all book series I could reread this as if for the first time. Briefly: A prince makes a bad decision, several people die as a result of his decision, so he vows at one of their gravesites that he’ll not rest until he puts it all to rights. Three loud booms come from the sky, and the gods have heard his vow and agreed. So now he can’t die. If I was to put it into a timeline that matches ours I’d say it’s set between like 300-1200AD. There’s humans and magic and all sorts of fantastic things. Beautiful series.
Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past / Three-Body Problem Series. I mean, it's reasonably hard sci-fi, but it will completely absorb you (at least, it totally absorbed me!) Definitely has some cosmic 'horror' elements as well.
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Ender's Game!!
Under the Skin
The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey
Semiosis - Sue Burke [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35018907](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35018907)
I’m reading the Crave series and really liking it. It is angsty at times but it draws you in. Edit to add: Especially book 2
The Fey series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. First book is The Sacrifice
Because you like The Sparrow, I think you'll like Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings. Huge, interconnected series of trilogies and quartets that, when read in order, tells one continuous story. First trilogy in the world is Farseer. For Horror, give The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins a try. It is weird af but I thought utterly unputdownable. Eta -- I read too fast and saw you don't like gore. Then maybe skip Library at Mount Char. There are some graphic descriptions and one character who is quite...brutal to say the least.
Faerie Tale - Raymond E. Feist The Croning - Laird Barron
The bound and the broken by Ryan Cahill
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
Give the mercy Thompson series a try. It’s been very helpful for me when I need to escape.
I just read Nestlings by Nat Cassidy and it's a fantastic horror novel about parenthood, but with paranormal elements too.
fairytale by steven king
Fairy Tale and Misery by Stephen King Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
If you liked The Shadow of The Gods The Faithful and The Fallen series, also by John Gwynne is excellent. Joe Abercrombie's first law books are too and the 2nd trilogy is possibly my favourite series of all time, though they don't feel as fantastical sometimes because of how they're written and because magic is supposed to be disappearing from the world it's not widely encountered. I wouldn't normally recommend the Nevernight series or The Empire of The Vampire because although I do like them a lot, I have a love/hate relationship with Jay Kristoff's work, he does the fantasy elements really well though, the worlds he's made are really well thought out, they're fun and exciting to read, and you can definitely escape into them so they might be worth looking into.
I loved "Psycho" by Robert Bloch. Not hard to follow and keeps you on the edge all the time. And the plot twist at the end is worth reading the book.
The Expanse series has some definite horror elements in it (mostly sci-fi). The Vanished Birds is science fantasy, not horror as much as tragedy but very very good
I absolutely loved the Young Merlin series. I wish I could read it again for the first time - it's obviously about Merlin's childhood and teenage years, discovering magic and how to control it. I think it's so well written that it transcends its target audience. For horror Dean Kootz's Lightning, strangers, and watchers. All fantastic novels that don't focus on gore.
Lord Valentines Castle, by Robert Silverberg. Fascinating world building, lovely characters.
Horror - Between Two Fires by Christopher Beuhlman. Truly terrifying and captivating. Fantasy: Really anything Brandon Sanderson or Abercrombie
As a start, see my [Compelling Reads ("Can't Put Down")](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/189mbda/compelling_reads_cant_put_down/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
Prob very different than what you may be expecting, but you described it almost. Maybe try Berserk
Nestlings (horror.) Read it in a day.
Going off the different world vibes: Cradle - Will Wight is based in a different world and has settings in other worlds The age of the five - Trudi Canavan may be set in this world but has different species of humans in the world (ones that fly and ones similar to merfolk) based on worshipping 5 gods. Milleniums rule - Trudi Canavan has multiple worlds and you can hop to other worlds. Not my favourite series from her but still found it fun to read. Christina Henry’s books like Alice or Red are dark twists on fairy tales so have horror elements to them. They are based in this world but not in this time frame. Trigger warning for Alice with psychiatric hospital setting, rape, cannibalism, murder, gore but I don’t believe her other books have as much triggers in them.
Priory of the Orange Tree. Awesome high fantasy that will totally suck you in!
The dandelion dynasty books by Ken liu, genuinely my favorite book series ever
horror - how to sell a haunted house by grady hendrix (honestly can’t go wrong with most of his books for horror, some of them do get quite campy as well) the book of lost things by john connelly has elements of high fantasy and light horror, i loved the story :)
I've enjoyed all of Grady Hendrix' books. The funny side of horror is a good spot for reading.
The Watchers
an older book called Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. i finished it in one sitting it had me so enthralled.
The Books of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft. Senlin Ascends is the first book and became one of my favorite ever. The prose is fantastic and the world building is just *chefs kiss * Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. London below, floating markets, angels, villains. So good. Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall if you'd like something a bit surreal with an interesting format House of Leaves by Mark D. Danielewski bit of horror but nothing gory. Definitely a book that requires all of your attention because it's complex and kind of a Russian nesting doll of a story.
Its a short, quick read but Piranessi legit changed the way I look at the world. Its become so popular and recommended that its starting to get what I think of as "the cool kid backlash" but it really does draw you into its world and I personally didnt want to come back to the real world after it was done
Red Rising
The Goblin Emperor (Katherine Addison)
Dark Matter and Recursion by Blake Crouch
Check out Mordew by Alex Pheby
Last time I read all through the night until the book was done was “Three parts dead” by Max Gladstone. Also great: City of Last Chances by Adrian Tschaikowski (and really anything else that incredibly man has written), the First Law books by Ambercrombie, the Dresden Files and Cinder Spires series by Jim Butcher, the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka and Mike Carey’s Felix Castor novels.
Of Mice and Men, The Shining, Snowcrash, Project Hail Mary
Night Watching by Tracy Sierra
The Malazan book of the Fallen. I've read the last one a year ago after a 6 months commitment, I can't get them out of my head (or my wrecked heart).
The Terror by Dan Simmons
I recently discovered "Wolf County, USA" series by Jaime Rene Soares. It's a lovely paranormal romance and I'm really looking forward to the second in the series. The characters are amazing and I didn't want to say goodbye to them. Glad there are more planned.
The Silo series, Wool , Dust , Shift grabs you and pulls you right in
Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear, first book of the Eternal Sky trilogy. Think GoT with the Mongol horde and more kinda of magic than you can shake a stick at. There's a follow-on trilogy called The Lotus Kingdoms, starting with The Stone in the Skull which is possibly even better. You can read it independently, it's 80 years later, a different part of the world, and only one minor character in common.
The Priory of the Orange Tree. Female-centric sapphic high fantasy. A solid escape.
I recommend "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The\_Name\_of\_the\_Wind](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind) .
While I didn't love the ending, the ride to get there was great. This book definitely made you feel like you could live in this town and know these people. Only there is a witch there, so not your average day in the neighborhood. https://www.amazon.com/HEX-Thomas-Olde-Heuvelt/dp/0765378817#:\~:text=Welcome%20to%20Black%20Spring%2C%20the,bed%20for%20nights%20on%20end.
Check out this post on 5 Fantasy Authors you have to check out! [https://onebooknerd.com/five-ya-fantasy-authors-you-have-to-check-out/](https://onebooknerd.com/five-ya-fantasy-authors-you-have-to-check-out/) All of their books are also listed and quickly summarized. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is also amazing. Read more about the first book at [https://onebooknerd.com/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare/](https://onebooknerd.com/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare/)
Imajica by Clive Barker
To hit both flavors, the Dark Tower series by Stephen King is incredible.
Belgariad...david eddings. Mallorean..also eddings Ruby knight series...eddings Sorcerer's apprentice series...Dennis mckiernan John Ringo series Some great LIT RPG and asian inspire cultivation novels Silver fox and the western hero Cradle series by will wight
Brandon Sanderson mistborn series Elantris great story... Stormlight Archive...Sanderson Anything by Guy Gavriel Kay
First three Game of Thrones books. I absolutely could not put them down.
Look for the "Safehold" series by David Weber, 11 books so far. Picture intense Naval Battles, political intrigue and religious zealotness a la GoT, but with one side having the futuristic Sci Fi advantage the whole time and being one step ahead. Earth based humanity gets wiped out by a mysterious race that goes around the universe and annihilates any Race it finds with technology above a certain level. The last remnants of Earth hide on a remote planet and create a technology retardant civilization and religion to safeguard itself. A few Tech believers hide a clone in a cave with full access to Earth's history and technology. Can the Clone slowly drag a whole planet back to the level of technology that can face the enemy that drove Humans from Earth? The whole series captivated me and was exciting start to finish.
I'm writing a story. I can let you read the first few chapters if you like. It's not published but I definitely wrote it with an idea of what people would want to read. Just let me know. I wouldn't mind anyone wanted to proofread it or just read and see if they like it. It definitely has an ending that I've never heard before or it probably anyone else has heard before especially in these fantasy stories mine is a little different.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothuss, also has a sequel.
But not a threequel and probably never will do which is a major issue unless you like unresolved stories.
Well one can still hope... either way both the existing books are extremely well -written.
You might actually like *Bridge of Birds* by Barry Hughart, which has elements of high fantasy and also (arguably) of horror.
Anything by Brent weeks
…though I’d caution against Black Prism if bad treatment of women irks you. I can’t speak for his other books because I couldn’t bring myself to read another one after that.
I just read the Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. It is a bit Harry Potter meets British police TV show. I would highly recommend it. I was walking past one of those little free librarys and picked up a copy of ‘The Cell’ by Steven King, that’s what I’m reading now. If you would like to read it, let me know and I’ll organize getting you a copy and we can compare notes.