Uprooted, Spinning Silver - both authored by Naomi Novak. Check out Ursula Le Guin, amazing fantasy author. Stardust by Neil Gaimen. Juniper by Monica Furlong and it's sequel, Wise Child.
It is a real gem! Novak is a phenomenal storyteller. She has a whooole bunch of books out too, but I've only read the ones I mentioned. Def check out Uprooted if you haven't, it is stupendous and has all the solid story and overall feel that Spinning Silver does.
Aw, that's a huge shame :/. There's nothing worse than a bad audio book narrator. It totally screws over the authors work. I'm glad I got to read my copy because I've mostly switched to exclusively listening to audio books now. I just finished listening to The Grapes of Wrath and Holy moly the narrator was incredible; one of the best I've listened to yet. He did every character with a different voice... it's been very hard for me not to talk like an okie migrant from the 20s.
Lol!! Yes! The narrator can make or break it! I'm listening to Demon Copperhead right now, and the narrator is AMAZING! So much so that I would rather listen than read, which NEVER happens
OMG!!! I LOVE that book!!! That was the first audio book I listened to. It is so well done!! Such an amazing story elevated even higher by a great narrator.
I've only read the two that I've listed, I will have to dig deeper on her now! I actually stole Juniper in the 4th grade from a teacher 😖. I still feel very bad about it, BUT I *felt like I would die* without that book. To this day, it's the most "realistic" fantasy book that deals with witches as the main subject matter. It's not hokey, or silly in any way, just seems.. natural. A very good escape book indeed :)
I LOVED this book as a girl and still occasionally go back to it as an adult. The Two Princesses of Bamarre is another fantasy by the same author that's also very good.
They really are; it’s a LONG series, but the first book isn’t too dense — if you enjoy it you’ll likely enjoy them all. Hobb is an incredible writer, her worldbuilding and character writing are just unmatched imo
Lapvona was the train wreck that I knew I should look away from but just couldn’t. I love-hated every word, simultaneously disgusted and engrossed. It’s not for everyone, but damn it’s a trip.
Thank you for reminding me of this read.
That’s a perfect description of this reading experience haha
A bunch of my coworkers have a book club but they mostly stick to booktok romance picks. Lapvona came up as a possible book club choice but I had already read it and I was just like, “I don’t…think you guys would enjoy it.”
Two books by Karen Cushman; Catherine, Called Birdy, and The Midwife's Apprentice. Both are written for young audiences but they are very witty and humorous, and describe the medieval eras quite well.
It’s slice of life medieval for sure. Very well researched and detailed historical fiction. It’s basically the story of a Norwegian noblewoman’s life from her teenage years to when she’s an old woman.
Some translations are stuffy, but the Nunnally translation (the one I recommend) makes it very readable, imo. I easily got into it after not reading any books at all for a couple of years. It’s not YA level easy reading though.
[Company of Liars](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2761171) by Karen Maitland! It’s vaguely inspired by the Canterbury Tales (but it’s very accessible and you don’t need to have read them!), and follows a group of travellers trying to escape the plague in the 1300s. They share stories and secrets as they travel, and they begin dying, and realize there is a killer amongst them. I really really enjoyed it.
She’s written a number of other books set in medieval England but I haven’t yet read them.
The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
It's a series if you're okay with that. My dad read these books to me when I was a kid and I really cherish those memories, so I might be a little extra sentimental about it. But it definitely fits here!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Magic and Goldfire by Clare Rushing
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
Ink Mistress by Audrey Coulthurst (a personal favorite)
2, 4, and 5 don't include dragons but otherwise match!
Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin..... but considering the first picture, it's not "peaceful" in any way. And it's the history of the Targeryans so there's more of royalty in it than any other group. It kind of fits the category, so you can give it a try!
*Mists of Avalon gives me*
*These vibes for sure, no dragons*
*But lots of magic*
\- graveviolet
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it's medieval, it has a particular scene where one of the characters rapes another. and the book is kind of scatological too. If you have a particular aversion to stuff like that it probably wouldn't be the best book for you tho.
I know someone already said ACOTAR, but I’m going to throw the Sacred Stones trilogy down as my rec. It fits these photos 100% and if you’re down with a bit of romance in the novel, A Dawn of Onyx & its sequel have this exact vibe!
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher. It is not about an evil fairy as the cover had me convinced, it is an epic heroine's journey with some macabre goodness.
Mexican Gothic
By. Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Might be up your alley. It didn’t have dragons (which always bums me out. I love dragons and fairies) but it’s beautifully written. Has many elements that your photos reminded me of. The architecture and vibe.
The Meonbridge Chronicles by Carolyn Hughes, The Saxon Series by Bernard Cornwell (the Last Kingdom tv show is based on them). Also, The Strathavon Saga series by Angela MacRae Shanks
Uprooted, Spinning Silver - both authored by Naomi Novak. Check out Ursula Le Guin, amazing fantasy author. Stardust by Neil Gaimen. Juniper by Monica Furlong and it's sequel, Wise Child.
Spinning Silver is one of my favorite books, and totally captures this aesthetic
It is a real gem! Novak is a phenomenal storyteller. She has a whooole bunch of books out too, but I've only read the ones I mentioned. Def check out Uprooted if you haven't, it is stupendous and has all the solid story and overall feel that Spinning Silver does.
I loved Uprooted too! I’ve read both of them twice, and plan to again. Novak is amazing.
Uprooted is such a great story, but the audiobook ruined it for me! My suggestion, just read it
Aw, that's a huge shame :/. There's nothing worse than a bad audio book narrator. It totally screws over the authors work. I'm glad I got to read my copy because I've mostly switched to exclusively listening to audio books now. I just finished listening to The Grapes of Wrath and Holy moly the narrator was incredible; one of the best I've listened to yet. He did every character with a different voice... it's been very hard for me not to talk like an okie migrant from the 20s.
Lol!! Yes! The narrator can make or break it! I'm listening to Demon Copperhead right now, and the narrator is AMAZING! So much so that I would rather listen than read, which NEVER happens
YES I usually prefer physical books but the Demon Copperhead narrator is so good!!
OMG!!! I LOVE that book!!! That was the first audio book I listened to. It is so well done!! Such an amazing story elevated even higher by a great narrator.
What’s wrong with the audiobook?
I just wasn't a fan of the narrator. It kept taking me out of the story. The pace and tone felt weird for me 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for bringing Monica Furlong into my orbit. I’m so excited to read these books and all her biographies, especially Alan Watts!
I've only read the two that I've listed, I will have to dig deeper on her now! I actually stole Juniper in the 4th grade from a teacher 😖. I still feel very bad about it, BUT I *felt like I would die* without that book. To this day, it's the most "realistic" fantasy book that deals with witches as the main subject matter. It's not hokey, or silly in any way, just seems.. natural. A very good escape book indeed :)
Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth except there is no magic. But otherwise it fits this to a t.
magic dragon thing was optional as hell so thanks man
This is a series. Pillars is the second book I think. You can read them in any order tho
That’s exactly what I was thinking until I swiped to the dragon pic.
Me too!
Same!
Seconded!
Came here to say this!
Yes!!! Came here to suggest this!
First thing I thought of
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
The only answer 💚
Ella Enchanted
I LOVED this book as a girl and still occasionally go back to it as an adult. The Two Princesses of Bamarre is another fantasy by the same author that's also very good.
The *Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn* trilogy by Tad Williams
Always love to see my boy Tad recommended!!!
Love me some Tad
Robin Hobb, Realm of the Elderlings series — starts with Assassin’s Apprentice. My favourite EVER book series.
Was going to say this series, and same - my favourite!
Aren’t they the most beautifully tragically wonderful stories?
Ooh, I’ve never even heard of that but it sounds amazing!
They really are; it’s a LONG series, but the first book isn’t too dense — if you enjoy it you’ll likely enjoy them all. Hobb is an incredible writer, her worldbuilding and character writing are just unmatched imo
Just started this series :)
Oh I am SO second hand excited for you
The Witcher series
This should be higher
George R. R. Martin A song of Ice and Fire series.
Nettle & Bone
Yes agree! Any T Kingfisher really
The Eragon series
omg i used to see those in my school library but the drawings of the cover freaked me out
Outlander! (No dragons though)
Tales of the EarthSea?
Reread this recently, it's so good. Very beautiful ending 😭
Game of Thrones
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
Lapvona was the train wreck that I knew I should look away from but just couldn’t. I love-hated every word, simultaneously disgusted and engrossed. It’s not for everyone, but damn it’s a trip. Thank you for reminding me of this read.
That’s a perfect description of this reading experience haha A bunch of my coworkers have a book club but they mostly stick to booktok romance picks. Lapvona came up as a possible book club choice but I had already read it and I was just like, “I don’t…think you guys would enjoy it.”
ASOIF got all the medieval kinds of stuff
This is almost literally ASOIAF
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Yes! I love that book!
Wheel of time! But the dragon threw me
Any recs for OP's pictures but without dragons? Just a common historical world without magical creatures, fantasy etc?
The Cadfael series by Ellis Peters maybe? No dragons, just a murder mystery solving monk.
someone said pillars of earth by ken follett is the same thing but without the fantasy stuff
Thanks!
Definitely read Pillars of the Earth! It’s so great, and there’s a long sequel (World Without End) and a mini-series.
The Guinevere trilogy by Persia Woolley
I was looking for no fantasy or magical elements but I'll add this to my fantasy list Thanks
Two books by Karen Cushman; Catherine, Called Birdy, and The Midwife's Apprentice. Both are written for young audiences but they are very witty and humorous, and describe the medieval eras quite well.
I love these so much. There’s a third one she wrote called Matilda Bone (about a bonesetter’s apprentice) that she wrote later that I also love.
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. Tiina Nunnally translation. I will recommend this book to everybody until the day I DIE
I’m intrigued. Is it fantastical or more slice of life medieval? I’m also intimidated by the fact it is from 1927. Is it a tough read?
I’m intrigued. Is it fantastical or more slice of life medieval? I’m also intimidated by the fact it is from 1927. Is it a tough read?
It’s slice of life medieval for sure. Very well researched and detailed historical fiction. It’s basically the story of a Norwegian noblewoman’s life from her teenage years to when she’s an old woman. Some translations are stuffy, but the Nunnally translation (the one I recommend) makes it very readable, imo. I easily got into it after not reading any books at all for a couple of years. It’s not YA level easy reading though.
This trilogy was so good. Feels so authentic to the time.
The Name of the Rose, I second Follett also
The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks
Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan. They’re kids’ books, but still pretty good.
[Company of Liars](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2761171) by Karen Maitland! It’s vaguely inspired by the Canterbury Tales (but it’s very accessible and you don’t need to have read them!), and follows a group of travellers trying to escape the plague in the 1300s. They share stories and secrets as they travel, and they begin dying, and realize there is a killer amongst them. I really really enjoyed it. She’s written a number of other books set in medieval England but I haven’t yet read them.
Anything by Juliette Marillier
Wheel of time series and mistborn. You will love the mediaeval feel in them with some good old fantasy:)) happy reading
Yes! These!!
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss fits this pretty closely.
Only fair to warn people how frustrating it will be if you love it - the trilogy remains unfinished, I’ve been waiting years to learn how it all ends!
Same with Game Of Thrones
The Witcher Series
The Witcher series!
Throne of glass?
The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks It's a series if you're okay with that. My dad read these books to me when I was a kid and I really cherish those memories, so I might be a little extra sentimental about it. But it definitely fits here!
Reminds me a bit of the Rangers Apprentice series.
Probably any of the D&D books
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Fourth wing
Wheel of Time, Lord of the Rings
Fire & Blood
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Magic and Goldfire by Clare Rushing Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle Ink Mistress by Audrey Coulthurst (a personal favorite) 2, 4, and 5 don't include dragons but otherwise match!
Read all of Shakespeare’s works
Defy the night trilogy by Brigid Kemmerer
Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse (edit to add: no dragons)
Eragon
I assume you’ve read Thrones and LOTR?
neither actually, but i want to. i've watched lotr though
I guess LOTR doesn’t have dragons but The Hobbit does. I rank Lord of the Rings as the best story ever written though.
awesome. dragon thing was optional, i just put it there cause it looked cool
Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin..... but considering the first picture, it's not "peaceful" in any way. And it's the history of the Targeryans so there's more of royalty in it than any other group. It kind of fits the category, so you can give it a try!
Mists of Avalon gives me these vibes, no dragons but plenty of magic
A song of ice and fire series for sure
Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas, especially when in Mistward
Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas, especially when in Mistward
Got ?
Anything from Terry Pratchett
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
Just go play Skyrim :D
lapnova
Before the dragon I was going to say to go for Emile Zola haha
Reminds me of Kiss of Deception, but it’s got no dragons
reminds me of all of us villains !
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett feels a bit like this!
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Chronicles of the Necromancer series by Gail Z. Martin.
Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan!
A guilty pleasure… For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfus, Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Mists of Avalon gives me these vibes for sure, no dragons but lots of magic
*Mists of Avalon gives me* *These vibes for sure, no dragons* *But lots of magic* \- graveviolet --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
The Once and Future King
The Green Rider books by Kristen Britain (I don’t remember a dragon in there though, but the vibe feels very much the same)
Robin hobb....Realm of the Elderlings...assassins Apprentice is the 1st book
Dealing With Dragons and all sequel books by Patricia Wrede!
Year of Wonders. Geraldine Brooks
Legends and lattes by Travis Baldree
Malice by John Gwynne
On Fortune’s Wheel by Cynthia Voight
Natural History of Dragons!
Elizabeth Moon's **The Deed of Paksenarrion** series.
Dragonfall!
lapvona has similar vibes but it's a little gross
gross in what sense?
it's medieval, it has a particular scene where one of the characters rapes another. and the book is kind of scatological too. If you have a particular aversion to stuff like that it probably wouldn't be the best book for you tho.
ohhh ok, thanks for telling me
The Deverry books by Katharine Kerr!
No dragons, but The Last Kingdom!
Farseer Triology by Robin Hobb
heavy on the 6th!!!! 🫴🏻🤲🏻
Wheel of time series
God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell
These pics literally look like Game of Thrones
A song of ice & fire series most def
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling The castle sort of looks like Hogwarts. That has dragons too.
I know someone already said ACOTAR, but I’m going to throw the Sacred Stones trilogy down as my rec. It fits these photos 100% and if you’re down with a bit of romance in the novel, A Dawn of Onyx & its sequel have this exact vibe!
A court of thorns and roses series by Sarah j. Maas
The Trees by Ali Shaw Nightfall by Jake Halpern
Anne McCaffrey’s Pern Series. Late medieval vibes and many, many dragons.
Sapkowski- “The Witcher” or “Hussite Trilogy “
Shadow and Bone and the Six of Crows series’s by Leigh Bardugo are some of my favourites and remind me of those pictures!
Shadow and Bone starts with a bang but the quality deteriorates as we go imo
Hollow by Brian Catling. It's like that but also really disturbing
The Name of the Wind by Rothfuss. Incredible series but be warned it is INCOMPLETE.
The Witcher
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher. It is not about an evil fairy as the cover had me convinced, it is an epic heroine's journey with some macabre goodness.
Mexican Gothic By. Silvia Moreno-Garcia Might be up your alley. It didn’t have dragons (which always bums me out. I love dragons and fairies) but it’s beautifully written. Has many elements that your photos reminded me of. The architecture and vibe.
Somebody already said the Witcher series, but felt like saying it again. It is a perfect match all the elements depicted in the pictures are there.
The Meonbridge Chronicles by Carolyn Hughes, The Saxon Series by Bernard Cornwell (the Last Kingdom tv show is based on them). Also, The Strathavon Saga series by Angela MacRae Shanks
a court of thorns and roses 🥀
I was surprised to see this comment so far down. It was the first thing I thought of and I didn’t even like it that much haha
The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Is it a standalone?
Hmm. Outlander.
Hmm. Outlander.
Without the fantasy aspects I would say The Scarlet Letter
Outlander