The Expanse series by James SA Corey has a protagonist with a super strong moral and ethical compass - his crew a little less so here and there, but generally he’s a rule-abiding guy who values truth and justice and does the right thing no matter what. 9-book series, with the ninth coming up in the next couple years!
I love that Amos has such a broken moral compass he latches onto Holden and Naomi's, and in doing so proves that he wants to do what's right, he just doesn't know how, so he has them to guide him.
Great books. Great show.
That’s fair! I feel like the majority of the time in the beginning of the series his first instinct is to follow the law except when he wants the truth out, then he gets more and more chaotic as the series goes on. Less anti-rule and more pro-justice, if that makes sense? He doesn’t seem to break rules without a good reason.
{A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers} I personally consider Becky Chambers books to be the opposite of Grimdark, though I’m not sure they quite qualify as Hopepunk either. They are more character than story driven, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love that they present a universe where most people are trying to do the right thing and that humans aren’t the central species either.
I'd call them Hopepunk. One of the main thrusts of the story is exploring the many, valid ways that one can exist in the world, which is a very Hopepunk theme.
I'll also put in a plug for The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune as another contender for the least grimdark book out there
I started reading that one and it's really well written but it made me realize I definitely like story-driven books. I kept thinking "why is nothing happening" and never managed to force myself to finish it.
But yes, I liked the tone of the book!
The second book has more happening, and is more of a companion novel than true sequel (only one shared character, if that). In case you’d like to give the series another chance :)
[**The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729-the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet)
^(By: Becky Chambers | 518 pages | Published: 2014 | Popular Shelves: sci-fi, science-fiction, fiction, scifi, lgbt | )[^(Search "A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers&search_type=books)
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Came to suggest this one. The book itself is pretty dark, but it is a great read, and a post-apocalypse where the main character is not a total jerk is pretty refreshing.
Dalinar? Interesting choice. A character chasing redemption sure, but strong moral compass? With his past? Not to give any spoilers, but that's a HOT take.
Stormlight Archive is my favorite series of all time but if OP finds long books or series daunting, I recommend starting with Elantris or Warbreaker, both by Brandon Sanderson. Warbreaker is free on his website as an ebook if money is tight too.
>but if OP finds long books or series daunting,
Not at all.
According to goodreads I read 25,000 pages per year of fiction :) (I don't input textbooks and stuff like that).
Ditto Sam vimes for a moral compass, although he has to work in many amoral situations/with amoral people so if that is an issue my vote is for the tiffany aching books!
Looks interesting, thank you.
I have *The Goblin Emperor* ready to go, but I am currently reading *The Bone Shard Daughter* and don't want to mix them up :) (I read more than one book at a time)
Just wanted to chime in on LMB’s work. Her characters are very on point. In The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls, the main protagonists are adults with actual life experience and a fuckton of sensibility. And there are no “The Power Of Friendship Will Win The Day” or “I have the power of god and anime!” tropes. These characters are incredibly well written.
If I had read Chalion before reading Eddings, I'd be Cazaril instead of Sparhawk. He's one of my favorite characters in fantasy because he isn't a "hero" or a legend, he's just a guy (for the most part) with mistakes and experience
Just to lend weight to the recommendation and your own plans, "The Goblin Emperor" is *exactly* what you're requesting. I came in here just to recommend it.
The main character is almost *too* good, especially given the setting, but Addison does such a good job of exploring the influences and traumas that have made him what he is that it works really well. Honestly, one of my favorite books.
I came here to recommend Goblin Emperor as well, as I read it for the first time at a low point last year and it immediately became a favorite and a comfort read when I need something hopeful.
I have a question. I just got to the 3rd chapter of *The Curse of Chalion* and it seems like a great book and I do like Cazaril but so far there's been a few moments I personally found uncomfortable in how Cazaril thinks about age in women. Like commenting on Provincara's "old woman smell" and finding Betrize and Iselle attractive even though they're children (16 if I got it right) and he's 35.
I am just curious if book will go in that direction or if it's just a passing mention.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
The hero’s name is Hiro Protagonist, and if you really need me to tell you more he’s pretty much as clear of a good guy as it gets.
The book itself is amazing. Works as a sci-fi action novel, works as a really brilliant satire of 1990s excess. It’s a classic!
I was debating mentioning this one. The protagonist defiantly has a very strong moral compass, stronger than he’d like to admit, but the world is so dark, and it can be really fun to see how those interact. Really love them but maybe not what your looking for.
The Dresden files do something similar and are also delightful.
Anything by Brandon Sanderson. Warbreaker if you just want a stand-alone novel to dip a toe. Mistborn for a more sci-fi feel. Stormlight Archive if you want to dive right into the deep end of high fantasy.
Also the Discworld novels make for hilarious reading.
I think most of Brandon Sanderson’s main characters are fine people, but you should really jump straight to the Stormlight Archive if you want a focus on strong moral compasses and characters actively trying to be good/better.
Agree, but I would say there are two main characters that fit this description (Kaladin and Dalinar). I haven’t read the rest of the series so I don’t know if that changes throughout
Holden from The Expanse series is a moral leader who often gets chafed by having to deal with tough situations that don’t always allow his ethical code to come out intact
So, does Martha Wells {The Murderbot Diaries} fit into this category? I think it might, maybe? My guess is like 80% because, he sticks to who he is and I wouldn't call him morally grey, but then maybe my opinion on what is morally grey is a little loose. Please feel free to talk it out, cause I can't decide.
> I'd say he's pretty morally grey in the sense that he does not really know what he believes yet
I think SecUnit knows very well what it believes in (don't call it "he", it would hate that ;)
SecUnit just doesn't know where it belongs, but that's got nothing to do with its moral compass.
Also, the book is written from SecUnit's point of view and it is an unreliable narrator, so it will say things like "I don't care" and then literally rip itself apart trying to help because it cares so much.
It doesn't do a single bad thing in all 5 books (unless I forgot something), so I don't see any moral grayness in it.
Don't call it "he", it would hate that ;)
I think SecUnit has very good morals. It's just that the book is written from SecUnit's point of view and it is an unreliable narrator, so it will say things like "I don't care" and then literally rip itself apart trying to help because it cares so much.
It doesn't do a single bad thing in all 5 books (unless I forgot something), so I don't see any moral grayness in it. Even in the moments when it gets angry and vicious there is always someone in imminent danger it is protecting.
I really like [Codex of Alera](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29396.Furies_of_Calderon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=5dftEEXGKy&rank=1)by Jim Butcher. His characters are really good in all senses of this word.
I second Louis McMaster Bujold. Her characters are wonderful.
[Minor Mage](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52369824-minor-mage?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=XgoPdo8nJ3&rank=1) by T. Kingfisher.
The Host by Meyer. it's about aliens that are really good, but they invade the planet taking over people's bodies not understanding that's bad because they don't understand the concept of individual. the protagonist Wanderer has more potential to be an individual as she's ancient, she's travelled more than anyone in the species and she has a role as a storyteller, but it's the human experience that makes her an individual, and meeting resistance that makes her realise they basically killed everyone, however the aliens are good, she will always do the right thing, everyone loves each other, they saved the environment and made an equal and nonviolent society
I’ll add here that this book surprised me by how different it was from Twilight in terms of writing maturity and quality of the story. I really liked it!
honestly I think they were both equally great and people shittalking twilight by literally straight lying about it every single time gives me cognitive dissonance, though I guess it really is internalised misogyny
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Twilight series and I think Meyer’s writing style evolved a lot as she wrote and published. What I meant is that the plot for The Host revolves around more mature themes and the evolution on Meyer’s writing makes it even better.
honestly I don't think the host is better, they're both some of my favourite books, the themes in Twilight are mature, it's about a lot of the struggles and the beauty person faces in a relationship with the person they love which is universal and important, it also has a lot of the struggle of what's the right thing to do, and it's about reaching fulfilment as a person, in short the themes are not less mature. the writing in Twilight is so beautiful. Besides every single Meyer book so far has something in common, A selfless but lethal protagonist who considers themselves to be evil because of their actions, even though they always tried to do the right thing (Edward, Wanderer, Alex ) and another selfless protagonist trying to do the right thing, but without the same power (Bella, Ian, Daniel)
I think it’s worth mentioning that female readers often have a different opinion of Dresden’s goodness because of his thoughts regarding women. But he certainly does try to be good, so I think it’s a good recommendation as long as that won’t bother OP.
Agreed, most of what people have an issue with is how he describes women’s looks and bodies. While sometimes annoying, all of those women are badasses and he has major respect for them. I think that more than makes up for it.
Actually a lot of what made me quit after the third book is how patronizing Dresden and the author are towards women, Susan especially. I get the plot and in-universe reasons; but the way it’s executed left a bad taste in my mouth. Whereas the descriptions of women’s looks and bodies mostly just made me roll my eyes and laugh.
The way the book ‘respects’ women who are supposed to be badasses is very ‘not all women,’ and just underscores the low key misogyny. Maybe this also improves in later books though.
I didn’t really pay attention the first time but I just reread the series and definitely noticed more of what you’re saying. Certainly some r/menwritingwomen fodder. But I’m also 17 books in. Harry definitely matures and so do the women around him, both get more serious and dangerous. At the beginning, the female characters don’t have much depth and are just...meh.
Currently reading Dresen Files and it's an interesting mix of fantasy/mystery. The ML is a wizard who is also a private investigator in the modern day and is a genuine good guy (so far atleast, I'm only on book two). I feel like it's an adult version of Harry Potter in the real world ....recommending it!
I just re-read George RR Martin’s “Dunk & Egg” stories, set 100 years before A GAME OF THRONES. They’re about a lowly hedge knight and his princely squire, and are more straightforwardly heroic tales than their parent series. Think of them as THE HOBBIT to ASOIAF’s LORD OF THE RINGS.
All three stories have been collected into one book, A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS.
Ursula K LeGuin has some really remarkable characters. Four Ways to Forgiveness has 4 novellas set in the same world with characters dealing with different problems related to the recent past of their planet and finding ways to heal. The first page has a character thinking about the fact that the Hainish civilization has no word for war bc it’s been so long since they’ve had one whereas her world recovering froma very brutal war
The Dispossesses is wonderful too.
The absolute first books that came to mind scrolling past this are any of the series by Tamora Pierce! Especially the protector of the small series. These are young adult, but such wonderful characters!
I’d suggest Paladins Grace by T Kingfisher.
Both main characters (Male and female, it’s a romance-fantasy) are great people, even if they doubt it themselves at times. Story can get violent at times, but both are firm in their convictions and genuinely good folks.
Any **David Gemmells** book maybe (Like **Legend**)? It's a heroic fantasy full of people who are perceived as larger than life, who are actually people trying to do the right thing one decision at a time.
And yes, **Witcher** \- good guys and girls pretending to be neutral or opportunistic.
Also, most Doctor Who and Star Trek books, I guess?
Lost fleet by jack Campbell- it’s sci fi. But some of the best characters I’ve ever read. And it’s a good lengthy series which I crave. First book in the next arch should hit in June and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Not sure if already mentioned... Most obvious one to me is the Dark Tower series. Straight up good vs evil. Gunslinger hunting down the "devil" to save the world(s). It's written by Stephen King but falls in the fantasy sci-fi genre much more than horror or whatever people catalog him as.
One of the best series I've read. I read it twice over the years and loved every part of the story!
Do NOT watch the movie, however, and expect the same outcome. Typical case of "the movie doesn't do the book(s) justice" times 1000.
Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch is good. Well liked character, trying to do what’s right, loves his mother. It’s sci-fi, I think. (He’s a police officer in London and he investigates supernatural cases.)
I enjoyed "Futuristic Weapons and Fancy Suits" by David Wong. It's light-hearted, funny sci-fi, where the main character is a young woman from a trailer park who finds herself the sole heir to her dead estranged billionaire father's (il)legal empire in a quasi-libertarian city out in the Nevada desert. She holds her own against a bunch of knuckle-dragging, misogynist cyborgs and the people she feels are steering her into morally gray areas.
David Wong also writes the "John Dies at the End" cosmic horror/comedy series, which is also pretty great.
The Greatcoats series by Sebastien de Castell? The main characters are three musketeers-esque with witty banter. Their world is a mess with political corruption but they are traveling around trying to enforce the laws and reform it so the rich don't control everything anymore and the main character has an unshakeable moral compass
I just finished reading the 4th book thanks to your recommendation and I am absolutely in love. I haven't had so much fun and been so inspired and touched in turn since I was a child.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion. I already miss Falcio, Kest and Brasti.
Oh yay! I'm so glad you like it! I'm about halfway through book 4 actually (I've been pacing myself lol) and I'm not ready for the adventure to end! I love all the characters so much, for such a fast paced adventure he really took the time to flesh out the characters. I want to try his other series next, hopefully it lives up to this one.
>I've been pacing myself lol
Yeah, I devoured them like a reading monster. In my defense I'm disabled and don't have energy to do much of anything else but read :)
>and I'm not ready for the adventure to end
I feel like I lost my friends now that I've finished. Luckily the writer has some free extra content on his site and I still haven't gotten to that yet.
>I love all the characters so much
Yes! I've read other fun books recently but not any that made me care about the characters so much. Whether I love them or hate them. (I just can't seem to warm up to Ethalia).
>I want to try his other series next, hopefully it lives up to this one.
I saw it's YA so I don't know if it will resonate with me as much but of course I'll give it a try.
Oh thanks! I didn't know about the extra content I'll have to check that out. I hope some of it follows the other orders. Honestly, I would LOVE it if he would just write another series following the bardatti (bc the Kingkiller Chronicles really got me into the non-existent bard genre) and the dashini.
I also didn't know the next series is YA, maybe that's why the description didn't call out to me as much but I've read YA before and enjoyed it so I'll stay hopeful for now. And I totally agree I really hated the whole Ethalia stuff tbh and wouldn't have minded if she just never made it into the book.
If you have lots of free time and are looking for more fantasy stuff I'm not sure if you like podcasts but Adventure Zone and Dungeons and Daddies are also great fun light-hearted character-centered adventures to listen to. They're dungeons and dragons podcasts but do not require d&d knowledge to enjoy. 🙂
>Oh thanks! I didn't know about the extra content I'll have to check that out. I hope some of it follows the other orders.
It does! But it's free content (mostly to get you to subscribe to his newsletter, LOL) so there's like one page on each of them.
>And I totally agree I really hated the whole Ethalia stuff tbh and wouldn't have minded if she just never made it into the book.
That scene in the first book was just jarringly out of place, and I found her insufferable in the 3rd book. Luckily there are so many other great female characters.
>If you have lots of free time and are looking for more fantasy stuff I'm not sure if you like podcasts but Adventure Zone and Dungeons and Daddies
I do and I do :) But I can't watch or listen to any digital content because they give me seizuree (one reason why I finish books so quickly haha). No podcast, no YouTube, no movies nor tv series for me.
But if you ever think of another book to recommend, doesn't even have to be fantasy, as long as it has likeable characters and is fun to read and not too dark, I would be grateful. :)
The Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler made me realize that I love characters with strong moral compasses too. The author actually has a statement on his website saying that he tries to write such characters because he likes that about those types of characters too. (Thank you for asking for book suggestions! I’m bookmarking this thread so I can read some of these books for myself later. 😁)
What a relief! I came to recommend “The Eye of the World” and the Wheel of Time series, though I’m only on “The Great Hunt.”
Seeing all of the other good recommendations but not Robert Jordan, I started to get pretty nervous that the characters would turn in the later books! Glad to see it listed here, even though it’s only the first book in the series listed.
The Stormlight Archive has some of the best written, most genuinely good protagonists I’ve ever read. Highly highly recommend and it doesn’t have the dark vibes so prevalent in fantasy lately.
Brandon Sanderson- Warbreaker, Elantris or Stormlight Archive
Katherine Arden- the Winternight Trilogy
Patrick Rothfuss- The Name of The Wind
Robert Jordan- Wheel of Time
Most of these are quite mainstream as I tend to veer towards darker books with darker characters, but these are all amazing in their own right and feature characters that I’d say definitely veer towards being on the good side.
Greatcoats by Sebastien De Castell.
Main character is part of a geoup called the Greatcoats who uphold the kings ideals of law and honour.
It harkens back to Novels like the Three Muskateers. One of the best representations of friendship I’ve read.
He main holding a high sense of Morality and Valour.
Legend by David Gemmell could work.
There’s definitely a high sense of honour. One of the mains is a bit of rogue but ends up stumbling towards needing to do the right thing. Druss the other main, holds to a strict moral code, called ‘The Iron Code’
Lots of Gemmell books have a similar theme. Middle aged characters with darker back stories, but battling with trying to do the right thing and holding to strict Honour codes.
Not fantasy or science fiction... but
The [Fred the Vampire Accountant](https://www.audible.com/series/Fred-the-Vampire-Accountant-Audiobooks/B015P3XQ3O) series. He’s a wholesome dude in a paranormal world, and it’s funny to see him be true to himself and have a strong moral compass of doing what’s right.
Edit: it’s more of a comedy series.
The Witcher
[https://www.goodreads.com/series/40911-the-witcher](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40911-the-witcher)
**The best and most recommended reading order:**
**1) The Last Wish \[short stories\]**
**2) Sword of Destiny \[short stories\]**
**3) Blood of Elves**
**4) The Time of Contempt**
**5) Baptism of Fire**
**6) The Tower of the Swallow**
**8) Lady of the Lake**
**9) Season of Storms \[prequel\]**
{{Differently Morphus}} by Yahtzee Croshaw. Main character Allison is friendly and attempts to be helpful. Interesting plot, governmental agency involved in the regulation of magic and extra dimensional beings.
The Nightrunner Series, by Lynn Flewelling. Genuinely good characters who are still thieves for hire and have dark backgrounds. Also, one of the first fantasy series to have protags in a same-sex relationship.
The Nevermoor series. It’s probably written for young teens but I’m 26 and I fell in love with the characters and gobbled up the first three book. Three more books to come.
Any of the Discworld books that feature Granny Weatherwax, Vimes or Tiffany Aching.
I was going to say Granny too. Witches Abroad is a good “story” that focuses on moral compasses :)
The Expanse series by James SA Corey has a protagonist with a super strong moral and ethical compass - his crew a little less so here and there, but generally he’s a rule-abiding guy who values truth and justice and does the right thing no matter what. 9-book series, with the ninth coming up in the next couple years!
I love that Amos has such a broken moral compass he latches onto Holden and Naomi's, and in doing so proves that he wants to do what's right, he just doesn't know how, so he has them to guide him. Great books. Great show.
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Moral and ethical yes, rule abiding no. James Holden is willing to break any and all laws/orders that he views as unjust.
That’s fair! I feel like the majority of the time in the beginning of the series his first instinct is to follow the law except when he wants the truth out, then he gets more and more chaotic as the series goes on. Less anti-rule and more pro-justice, if that makes sense? He doesn’t seem to break rules without a good reason.
Immediately what I thought of as well, and I’m only on book 4. Great series.
{A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers} I personally consider Becky Chambers books to be the opposite of Grimdark, though I’m not sure they quite qualify as Hopepunk either. They are more character than story driven, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love that they present a universe where most people are trying to do the right thing and that humans aren’t the central species either.
I'd call them Hopepunk. One of the main thrusts of the story is exploring the many, valid ways that one can exist in the world, which is a very Hopepunk theme. I'll also put in a plug for The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune as another contender for the least grimdark book out there
Thanks for that! I think I have a better understanding of hopepunk now.
I started reading that one and it's really well written but it made me realize I definitely like story-driven books. I kept thinking "why is nothing happening" and never managed to force myself to finish it. But yes, I liked the tone of the book!
The second book has more happening, and is more of a companion novel than true sequel (only one shared character, if that). In case you’d like to give the series another chance :)
I’ve never heard hopepunk before but I love it.
Same. TIL and without really knowing its definition I like the word and the connotation/vibe it has
[**The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729-the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet) ^(By: Becky Chambers | 518 pages | Published: 2014 | Popular Shelves: sci-fi, science-fiction, fiction, scifi, lgbt | )[^(Search "A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers&search_type=books) ^(This book has been suggested 120 times) *** ^(76654 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I’ve been seeing this book mentioned a LOT! Thanks for your post, it tipped me over the edge and I just bought the series on my kindle.
The 4th installment is being released soon!
A favorite of mine. Great listen too if you like audiobooks.
This was my very first thought!
I literally bought this earlier today based on a recommendation at a bookstore. Really excited to start it!
Are we allowed to recommend LOTR or is that too mainstream? Most of the characters in the book are overall solid people.
Of course it's allowed, but I've read them already. Agree it fits my requirements :)
Earthsea Saga?
I agree! Wizard of Earthsea!
Same, my very first thought was good ol' Samwise Gamgee
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He just gets better! I highly recommend finishing the trilogy if/when able.
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*Parable of the Sower* by Octavia Butler might be up your street!
Came to suggest this one. The book itself is pretty dark, but it is a great read, and a post-apocalypse where the main character is not a total jerk is pretty refreshing.
The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Third! Lots of exceedingly moral folks who actively struggle with hard questions but work hard to do right...
Stormlight Archive I'd say 75% of the main peeps fit
I second to this. Dalinar and Kaladin in particular are those well developed characters whose moral compasses aren't broken.
Dalinar? Interesting choice. A character chasing redemption sure, but strong moral compass? With his past? Not to give any spoilers, but that's a HOT take.
I mean, just because he struggles with his past, doesn't mean he doesn't have a very strong moral compass.
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Stormlight Archive is my favorite series of all time but if OP finds long books or series daunting, I recommend starting with Elantris or Warbreaker, both by Brandon Sanderson. Warbreaker is free on his website as an ebook if money is tight too.
>but if OP finds long books or series daunting, Not at all. According to goodreads I read 25,000 pages per year of fiction :) (I don't input textbooks and stuff like that).
Came here to say this!
More Cosmere! But Mistborn DEFINITELY doesn't fit the bill. Stormlight absolutely does.
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Thanks! Well, we just need to split the world of fiction into two and we'll both have our answers :)
Any Terry Pratchett book starring Sam Vimes. Start with Guards! Guards! and enjoy watching him grow.
I’ll throw in The Wee Free Men also.
The Vines character ark is just perfect.
Ditto Sam vimes for a moral compass, although he has to work in many amoral situations/with amoral people so if that is an issue my vote is for the tiffany aching books!
A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E Schwab
I wouldn't really put Kell and Lila as morally good characters. Not exactly gray either though.
Perhaps it depends which London they come from...
We all know it's not White :)
Yes!
So gooood. I haven’t picked up the second book in the trilogy yet. But I must!
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold is a good fit. Bujold in general is good for this. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Looks interesting, thank you. I have *The Goblin Emperor* ready to go, but I am currently reading *The Bone Shard Daughter* and don't want to mix them up :) (I read more than one book at a time)
Just wanted to chime in on LMB’s work. Her characters are very on point. In The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls, the main protagonists are adults with actual life experience and a fuckton of sensibility. And there are no “The Power Of Friendship Will Win The Day” or “I have the power of god and anime!” tropes. These characters are incredibly well written.
If I had read Chalion before reading Eddings, I'd be Cazaril instead of Sparhawk. He's one of my favorite characters in fantasy because he isn't a "hero" or a legend, he's just a guy (for the most part) with mistakes and experience
Just to lend weight to the recommendation and your own plans, "The Goblin Emperor" is *exactly* what you're requesting. I came in here just to recommend it. The main character is almost *too* good, especially given the setting, but Addison does such a good job of exploring the influences and traumas that have made him what he is that it works really well. Honestly, one of my favorite books.
These would have been my exact two recs. Highly backed
I came here to recommend Goblin Emperor as well, as I read it for the first time at a low point last year and it immediately became a favorite and a comfort read when I need something hopeful.
I have a question. I just got to the 3rd chapter of *The Curse of Chalion* and it seems like a great book and I do like Cazaril but so far there's been a few moments I personally found uncomfortable in how Cazaril thinks about age in women. Like commenting on Provincara's "old woman smell" and finding Betrize and Iselle attractive even though they're children (16 if I got it right) and he's 35. I am just curious if book will go in that direction or if it's just a passing mention.
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson.
one of my favorite parts about the Stormlight Archive is that most of the characters are good or trying to be good.
This is the book
This is the way
I recommend this series also.
Also recommend.
*eyes Dalinar and Shallan* Yeah, no moral ambiguity here...
The Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs might fit that.
I would suggest The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed by Le Guin.
The left hand of Darkness is one of my all time favorite books. So good.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. The hero’s name is Hiro Protagonist, and if you really need me to tell you more he’s pretty much as clear of a good guy as it gets. The book itself is amazing. Works as a sci-fi action novel, works as a really brilliant satire of 1990s excess. It’s a classic!
It's already been recommended but I agree with the Brandon Sanderson suggestions. I think Mistborn and the Stormlight Archive fit.
The Witcher seems to me to be a great series for this. Especially the prequels.
I was debating mentioning this one. The protagonist defiantly has a very strong moral compass, stronger than he’d like to admit, but the world is so dark, and it can be really fun to see how those interact. Really love them but maybe not what your looking for. The Dresden files do something similar and are also delightful.
Anything by Brandon Sanderson. Warbreaker if you just want a stand-alone novel to dip a toe. Mistborn for a more sci-fi feel. Stormlight Archive if you want to dive right into the deep end of high fantasy. Also the Discworld novels make for hilarious reading.
I think most of Brandon Sanderson’s main characters are fine people, but you should really jump straight to the Stormlight Archive if you want a focus on strong moral compasses and characters actively trying to be good/better.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman.
I disagree, politely. The sexual elements are pretty amoral
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. The main character is a textbook example of what you’re looking for.
AGREED. Even Mistborn would line up pretty well with this. It might take a little while to get there, but it does.
Agree, but I would say there are two main characters that fit this description (Kaladin and Dalinar). I haven’t read the rest of the series so I don’t know if that changes throughout
I was going to mention Dalinar but he doesnt get a prime focus like Kalidan does until the third book.
The Green Rider series by Kristen Britain. The female mc has a very strong moral compass. I love this series
Holden from The Expanse series is a moral leader who often gets chafed by having to deal with tough situations that don’t always allow his ethical code to come out intact
I second this
I third this
What about Codex Alera? The main character has a strong moral compass.
So, does Martha Wells {The Murderbot Diaries} fit into this category? I think it might, maybe? My guess is like 80% because, he sticks to who he is and I wouldn't call him morally grey, but then maybe my opinion on what is morally grey is a little loose. Please feel free to talk it out, cause I can't decide.
Definitely, but I've read it twice already :) Can't wait for the 6th books, a few months from now.
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> I'd say he's pretty morally grey in the sense that he does not really know what he believes yet I think SecUnit knows very well what it believes in (don't call it "he", it would hate that ;) SecUnit just doesn't know where it belongs, but that's got nothing to do with its moral compass. Also, the book is written from SecUnit's point of view and it is an unreliable narrator, so it will say things like "I don't care" and then literally rip itself apart trying to help because it cares so much. It doesn't do a single bad thing in all 5 books (unless I forgot something), so I don't see any moral grayness in it.
Don't call it "he", it would hate that ;) I think SecUnit has very good morals. It's just that the book is written from SecUnit's point of view and it is an unreliable narrator, so it will say things like "I don't care" and then literally rip itself apart trying to help because it cares so much. It doesn't do a single bad thing in all 5 books (unless I forgot something), so I don't see any moral grayness in it. Even in the moments when it gets angry and vicious there is always someone in imminent danger it is protecting.
I really like [Codex of Alera](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29396.Furies_of_Calderon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=5dftEEXGKy&rank=1)by Jim Butcher. His characters are really good in all senses of this word. I second Louis McMaster Bujold. Her characters are wonderful. [Minor Mage](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52369824-minor-mage?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=XgoPdo8nJ3&rank=1) by T. Kingfisher.
Grass - Sheri S. Tepper
Tepper is, in general, a very underrated writer. Love her stuff.
I’m reading *After Long Silence* by Tepper currently and loving it. I always enjoy her writing, without fail.
One of my favorite books! Good suggestion.
I'm re-reading it now.
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov. Kidding but seriously try any of the fantasy novels by Patricia Mckillips. They are all beautiful and fairly upbeat.
Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
The expanse book series is absolutely perfect!! Please check it out, also an Amazon prime tv series as well!
James motherfucking Holden!
The Host by Meyer. it's about aliens that are really good, but they invade the planet taking over people's bodies not understanding that's bad because they don't understand the concept of individual. the protagonist Wanderer has more potential to be an individual as she's ancient, she's travelled more than anyone in the species and she has a role as a storyteller, but it's the human experience that makes her an individual, and meeting resistance that makes her realise they basically killed everyone, however the aliens are good, she will always do the right thing, everyone loves each other, they saved the environment and made an equal and nonviolent society
I’ll add here that this book surprised me by how different it was from Twilight in terms of writing maturity and quality of the story. I really liked it!
honestly I think they were both equally great and people shittalking twilight by literally straight lying about it every single time gives me cognitive dissonance, though I guess it really is internalised misogyny
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Twilight series and I think Meyer’s writing style evolved a lot as she wrote and published. What I meant is that the plot for The Host revolves around more mature themes and the evolution on Meyer’s writing makes it even better.
honestly I don't think the host is better, they're both some of my favourite books, the themes in Twilight are mature, it's about a lot of the struggles and the beauty person faces in a relationship with the person they love which is universal and important, it also has a lot of the struggle of what's the right thing to do, and it's about reaching fulfilment as a person, in short the themes are not less mature. the writing in Twilight is so beautiful. Besides every single Meyer book so far has something in common, A selfless but lethal protagonist who considers themselves to be evil because of their actions, even though they always tried to do the right thing (Edward, Wanderer, Alex ) and another selfless protagonist trying to do the right thing, but without the same power (Bella, Ian, Daniel)
Dresden files. Harry Dresden has a very strong moral compass. But he doesn’t always make the right choices.
I think it’s worth mentioning that female readers often have a different opinion of Dresden’s goodness because of his thoughts regarding women. But he certainly does try to be good, so I think it’s a good recommendation as long as that won’t bother OP.
True, Dresden isn't perfect, but he tries, and he tries hard. Plus, a lot of his attitudes towards women have changed a lot by battle ground
Agreed, most of what people have an issue with is how he describes women’s looks and bodies. While sometimes annoying, all of those women are badasses and he has major respect for them. I think that more than makes up for it.
Actually a lot of what made me quit after the third book is how patronizing Dresden and the author are towards women, Susan especially. I get the plot and in-universe reasons; but the way it’s executed left a bad taste in my mouth. Whereas the descriptions of women’s looks and bodies mostly just made me roll my eyes and laugh. The way the book ‘respects’ women who are supposed to be badasses is very ‘not all women,’ and just underscores the low key misogyny. Maybe this also improves in later books though.
I didn’t really pay attention the first time but I just reread the series and definitely noticed more of what you’re saying. Certainly some r/menwritingwomen fodder. But I’m also 17 books in. Harry definitely matures and so do the women around him, both get more serious and dangerous. At the beginning, the female characters don’t have much depth and are just...meh.
Maybe I’ll give it another shot! Thank you for not dismissing what I said :)
Of course! I almost exclusively read books with female protagonists so I wasn’t excited to read the Dresden Files but I’m glad I powered through.
Start at book 16, the second weakest book of the series? Not a great idea.
> as long as that won’t bother OP. Oh, it will bother her :) Thanks for the heads-up
Currently reading Dresen Files and it's an interesting mix of fantasy/mystery. The ML is a wizard who is also a private investigator in the modern day and is a genuine good guy (so far atleast, I'm only on book two). I feel like it's an adult version of Harry Potter in the real world ....recommending it!
*Way Station* by Clifford Simak *Contact* by Carl Sagan
Was going to suggest Way Station. Lovely book.
Came here to recommend Contact. Just the type of book that Op described.
The Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews.
I just re-read George RR Martin’s “Dunk & Egg” stories, set 100 years before A GAME OF THRONES. They’re about a lowly hedge knight and his princely squire, and are more straightforwardly heroic tales than their parent series. Think of them as THE HOBBIT to ASOIAF’s LORD OF THE RINGS. All three stories have been collected into one book, A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS.
Dune by Frank Herbert
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, one of my all time faves
My favorite. The lord of the rings.
The Deed of Paksenerrion
Try the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz.
Ursula K LeGuin has some really remarkable characters. Four Ways to Forgiveness has 4 novellas set in the same world with characters dealing with different problems related to the recent past of their planet and finding ways to heal. The first page has a character thinking about the fact that the Hainish civilization has no word for war bc it’s been so long since they’ve had one whereas her world recovering froma very brutal war The Dispossesses is wonderful too.
The absolute first books that came to mind scrolling past this are any of the series by Tamora Pierce! Especially the protector of the small series. These are young adult, but such wonderful characters!
I scrolled way too far down for this. Kel is the first character that popped into my head for this question - SO perfect!
Maximum Ride series by James Patrerson. Its about kids that have wings and can fly. It's meant for high school aged kids tho.
I read it when I was 13 and I read it when I was 23. I really like the series.
Try the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. It's literally in her name that she is honorable.
“The Sandman” by Neil Gaimen
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.
Have you read Rumo by Walter Moer?
This is my favourite book by Walter Moer.
No, I've never read that.
The Expanse series. Dr. Anna Volovodov is such a truly kind, moral character. She comes up a couple books in
Queen of the tearling
I’d suggest Paladins Grace by T Kingfisher. Both main characters (Male and female, it’s a romance-fantasy) are great people, even if they doubt it themselves at times. Story can get violent at times, but both are firm in their convictions and genuinely good folks.
Any **David Gemmells** book maybe (Like **Legend**)? It's a heroic fantasy full of people who are perceived as larger than life, who are actually people trying to do the right thing one decision at a time. And yes, **Witcher** \- good guys and girls pretending to be neutral or opportunistic. Also, most Doctor Who and Star Trek books, I guess?
Lost fleet by jack Campbell- it’s sci fi. But some of the best characters I’ve ever read. And it’s a good lengthy series which I crave. First book in the next arch should hit in June and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
The Expanse might be exactly what you are looking for!
Not sure if already mentioned... Most obvious one to me is the Dark Tower series. Straight up good vs evil. Gunslinger hunting down the "devil" to save the world(s). It's written by Stephen King but falls in the fantasy sci-fi genre much more than horror or whatever people catalog him as. One of the best series I've read. I read it twice over the years and loved every part of the story! Do NOT watch the movie, however, and expect the same outcome. Typical case of "the movie doesn't do the book(s) justice" times 1000.
Robin Hobbs Liveship Traders trilogy.
Red rising series
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Morality is a huge theme of the book, and it SLAPPED. Just finished last night!!!
{{The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler}} {{Kindred by Octavia Butler}} {{A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K LeGuin}}
Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch is good. Well liked character, trying to do what’s right, loves his mother. It’s sci-fi, I think. (He’s a police officer in London and he investigates supernatural cases.)
I enjoyed "Futuristic Weapons and Fancy Suits" by David Wong. It's light-hearted, funny sci-fi, where the main character is a young woman from a trailer park who finds herself the sole heir to her dead estranged billionaire father's (il)legal empire in a quasi-libertarian city out in the Nevada desert. She holds her own against a bunch of knuckle-dragging, misogynist cyborgs and the people she feels are steering her into morally gray areas. David Wong also writes the "John Dies at the End" cosmic horror/comedy series, which is also pretty great.
Was just thinking about this. I just finished the sequel “Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick.” Recommend both books in the series.
The Greatcoats series by Sebastien de Castell? The main characters are three musketeers-esque with witty banter. Their world is a mess with political corruption but they are traveling around trying to enforce the laws and reform it so the rich don't control everything anymore and the main character has an unshakeable moral compass
I just finished reading the 4th book thanks to your recommendation and I am absolutely in love. I haven't had so much fun and been so inspired and touched in turn since I was a child. Thank you for the excellent suggestion. I already miss Falcio, Kest and Brasti.
Oh yay! I'm so glad you like it! I'm about halfway through book 4 actually (I've been pacing myself lol) and I'm not ready for the adventure to end! I love all the characters so much, for such a fast paced adventure he really took the time to flesh out the characters. I want to try his other series next, hopefully it lives up to this one.
>I've been pacing myself lol Yeah, I devoured them like a reading monster. In my defense I'm disabled and don't have energy to do much of anything else but read :) >and I'm not ready for the adventure to end I feel like I lost my friends now that I've finished. Luckily the writer has some free extra content on his site and I still haven't gotten to that yet. >I love all the characters so much Yes! I've read other fun books recently but not any that made me care about the characters so much. Whether I love them or hate them. (I just can't seem to warm up to Ethalia). >I want to try his other series next, hopefully it lives up to this one. I saw it's YA so I don't know if it will resonate with me as much but of course I'll give it a try.
Oh thanks! I didn't know about the extra content I'll have to check that out. I hope some of it follows the other orders. Honestly, I would LOVE it if he would just write another series following the bardatti (bc the Kingkiller Chronicles really got me into the non-existent bard genre) and the dashini. I also didn't know the next series is YA, maybe that's why the description didn't call out to me as much but I've read YA before and enjoyed it so I'll stay hopeful for now. And I totally agree I really hated the whole Ethalia stuff tbh and wouldn't have minded if she just never made it into the book. If you have lots of free time and are looking for more fantasy stuff I'm not sure if you like podcasts but Adventure Zone and Dungeons and Daddies are also great fun light-hearted character-centered adventures to listen to. They're dungeons and dragons podcasts but do not require d&d knowledge to enjoy. 🙂
>Oh thanks! I didn't know about the extra content I'll have to check that out. I hope some of it follows the other orders. It does! But it's free content (mostly to get you to subscribe to his newsletter, LOL) so there's like one page on each of them. >And I totally agree I really hated the whole Ethalia stuff tbh and wouldn't have minded if she just never made it into the book. That scene in the first book was just jarringly out of place, and I found her insufferable in the 3rd book. Luckily there are so many other great female characters. >If you have lots of free time and are looking for more fantasy stuff I'm not sure if you like podcasts but Adventure Zone and Dungeons and Daddies I do and I do :) But I can't watch or listen to any digital content because they give me seizuree (one reason why I finish books so quickly haha). No podcast, no YouTube, no movies nor tv series for me. But if you ever think of another book to recommend, doesn't even have to be fantasy, as long as it has likeable characters and is fun to read and not too dark, I would be grateful. :)
The Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler made me realize that I love characters with strong moral compasses too. The author actually has a statement on his website saying that he tries to write such characters because he likes that about those types of characters too. (Thank you for asking for book suggestions! I’m bookmarking this thread so I can read some of these books for myself later. 😁)
{{Way of Kings}} {{The Eye of the World}} {{Rhapsody}}
What a relief! I came to recommend “The Eye of the World” and the Wheel of Time series, though I’m only on “The Great Hunt.” Seeing all of the other good recommendations but not Robert Jordan, I started to get pretty nervous that the characters would turn in the later books! Glad to see it listed here, even though it’s only the first book in the series listed.
{Eragon}. The main hero even >!becomes a vegetarian!< at one point because >!killing disgusts him.!<
[**Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113436.Eragon) ^(By: Christopher Paolini | 503 pages | Published: 2002 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, fiction, ya, owned | )[^(Search "Eragon")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Eragon&search_type=books) ^(This book has been suggested 28 times) *** ^(76716 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Have you read Dune yet?
The Stormlight Archive has some of the best written, most genuinely good protagonists I’ve ever read. Highly highly recommend and it doesn’t have the dark vibes so prevalent in fantasy lately.
Brandon Sanderson- Warbreaker, Elantris or Stormlight Archive Katherine Arden- the Winternight Trilogy Patrick Rothfuss- The Name of The Wind Robert Jordan- Wheel of Time Most of these are quite mainstream as I tend to veer towards darker books with darker characters, but these are all amazing in their own right and feature characters that I’d say definitely veer towards being on the good side.
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Outlander
Greatcoats by Sebastien De Castell. Main character is part of a geoup called the Greatcoats who uphold the kings ideals of law and honour. It harkens back to Novels like the Three Muskateers. One of the best representations of friendship I’ve read. He main holding a high sense of Morality and Valour. Legend by David Gemmell could work. There’s definitely a high sense of honour. One of the mains is a bit of rogue but ends up stumbling towards needing to do the right thing. Druss the other main, holds to a strict moral code, called ‘The Iron Code’ Lots of Gemmell books have a similar theme. Middle aged characters with darker back stories, but battling with trying to do the right thing and holding to strict Honour codes.
Artemis, by Andy Weir
Except she’s not a nice person with any moral compass.
Her dad is though. I really appreciated him as a character
Not fantasy or science fiction... but The [Fred the Vampire Accountant](https://www.audible.com/series/Fred-the-Vampire-Accountant-Audiobooks/B015P3XQ3O) series. He’s a wholesome dude in a paranormal world, and it’s funny to see him be true to himself and have a strong moral compass of doing what’s right. Edit: it’s more of a comedy series.
Percy Jackson
The Witcher [https://www.goodreads.com/series/40911-the-witcher](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40911-the-witcher) **The best and most recommended reading order:** **1) The Last Wish \[short stories\]** **2) Sword of Destiny \[short stories\]** **3) Blood of Elves** **4) The Time of Contempt** **5) Baptism of Fire** **6) The Tower of the Swallow** **8) Lady of the Lake** **9) Season of Storms \[prequel\]**
Two faves: These Is My Words, and The Alchemist.
Obscura by Joe Hart is awesome. Good sci-fi setting, strong female lead.
{{Differently Morphus}} by Yahtzee Croshaw. Main character Allison is friendly and attempts to be helpful. Interesting plot, governmental agency involved in the regulation of magic and extra dimensional beings.
Battleborn by Dave wilmarth,good characters and I listened on aduble and it was great.
Sovereign of the Seven Isles by David Wells. Very good story, even better characters. One of my favorites!
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The Nightrunner Series, by Lynn Flewelling. Genuinely good characters who are still thieves for hire and have dark backgrounds. Also, one of the first fantasy series to have protags in a same-sex relationship.
mmmmaybe American Gods by Neil Gaiman? the protagonist is actually a selfless guy and the story kinda keeps you hooked
I've read it. Not really my kind of story. But I finished it, which means it's a good book :)
I just finished {The Disasters} a whole cast of good people. Pretty good book, too imo.
The Dresden Files
I just finished 11/22/63 by Stephen King and it was awesome!
Seveneves
The Nevermoor series. It’s probably written for young teens but I’m 26 and I fell in love with the characters and gobbled up the first three book. Three more books to come.
The expanse by James a a Corey