So to start off I have Blodeuedd's list then mine...
Top 10 Fantasy Reads:
Now this is hard!! I love fantasy, it is my favorite genre and I read fantasy even before I knew what fantasy what. Then one day I realized what fantasy actually was and started reading David Edding’s books and never looked back. Now I will give you the best fantasy books I have read these last two years. And I will focus on epic fantasy and not count books that take place on earth, even if a changed earth.
This was a re-read since I love love, did I mention love ;) The Wheel of time series. I am also totally bias and would also put in his latest two books (12, 13) on the list but I will try not to. It is the kind of fantasy books that I can read over and over again.
This book is LONG, but good and it made me gasp and I sat on the edge of my seat. He is a worthy author to finish The wheel of time (see I mentioned it again ;)
It’s not often (ok never) I like a fantasy book because of the language but here the prose was just beautiful and dreamlike. The story was different too.
A YA book made it to the list. I just loved this book but, here is the disappointing thing. Book 2 was meh and I hated book 3. Still book 1 has to be on the list. And I heart Valek.
Melissa brought this book to my attention (thank you!). It was light and dark and it kept me reading, I love being swept away.
This is actually one of the hardest books I have ever read. Sometimes I had to stop because I just could not read any more. It was depressing, sad and horrible. But it stayed true to a world dark by war.
This book was different again. They have muskets and cannons, it is military fantasy and it was a new subgenre to me. Still I enjoyed it a lot.
This book did have parts that I did not like, mostly the POV of one character, but the rest made up for it because this is one scary book. You have never seen demons like these.
Another YA, and one that surprised me since I more or less hated her other book. But I liked it because of the world she had created. A woman who people want to have or want to kill.
Yes I know, I said epic fantasy but since I have YA here I will also put this fantasy romance on the list. I usually think fantasy romance and light fantasy are only ok, but this one I liked. Even with the excess romance and stuff.
Though if I had included books that are more or less fantasy, but taking place on this earth, like steampunk/alternative history kind of books rich in fantasy, then Cold Fire by Kate Elliott and The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith would have made it.
Thanks for having me over Melissa :D and letting me share some of my fav fantasy books.
Thank you Blodeuedd! I have many of these books either on my stacks here to read, have read, or on the WANT list to get. ;) Thank you so much for the amazing list! And so glad you enjoyed Shadow's Lure so.
My Top 10 Fantasy Reads:
(This is another tough list for me to create. So No particular order here as I loved them all and STRONGLY suggest you read all these series!)
The Crowded Shadows by Celine Kiernan - This fantasy read is one a younger adult reader could read too. But this was the one where I fell in love with the characters and what I learned of Christopher. Wonderful fantasy world created here.
The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke - Loved the world with lack of water and the importance of it. Great story here and interesting world building.
So, there are your top 10 from Blodeuedd and I. Hope you enjoy them. What are your top picks?
Eye of the World is amazing as is the entire World of Time series. For me there isn't a bad book in the entire run.
ReplyDeleteI also love anything by David Eddings or Terry Brooks. I would have to include Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana on any list I did, and a few others of his.
Gosh this topic could have me going on and on and on.
Great lists from both of you!
Ooh, lots of good books listed here! I've read about half of these, and it looks like I'll be adding a few more to my TBR pile. (And YES for Name of the Wind! LOVED that book!!!!!)
ReplyDeleteSmiles!
Lori
Great lists!
ReplyDeleteMy first love will always be Louise Cooper's Time Master Trilogy. I read them when I was sixteen--prior to that, I had no interest in high fantasy whatsoever. I've also read Sacrament of Night by her approximately a bazillion times and I cry each and every time.
I also can't wait for you to read The Sorceress's Orc. So, so good. I love Elaine's books like whoa.
Love both of your lists! Will have to check them out on Goodreads, and will probably be adding several new titles to my wishlist! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me over Melissa :D I have certainly read some good books these last two years and I am happy that we shared books too.
ReplyDeleteHm, do I have the UK book of Peter Brett? Guess so :D
Your fantasy lists rock my socks - ALL of these are on my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I haven't even read half of the books that are on this list, though some of them are on my TBR pile. I'm not even sure I could narrow things down to my top 10 favourite fantasy reads if I tried; there are just so many of them!
ReplyDeleteWonderful lists! Most are totally new books/authors so I'm thrilled to add these to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteRyan
ReplyDeleteOh yes I LOVE that series :D I can't wait for the last one, I am on pins and needles here.
Eddings was actually the author that got me started so I owe a lot to him.
Lori
I hope you find some new books to read from our lists :D I do recommend all on mine (still have a few to read on Mel's)
Skyla
I have sure read a lot of good ones during my days, I am glad I just took the last 2 years cos it would have been hard if I had looked at everything
Alexia
I hope you add a lot :D
Ana
Of course first of all you must read the best fantasy book in the world, Magician by Feist :D
Biblio
I know. That is why I am glad I just looked at 2 years because wow, if not, then it would have been crazy
Yes because of you both, I have either got many of these books on the tbr or on my wishlist! You both rock fantasy!!
ReplyDeleteWe are just trying to get you to come over to the best side :) Cos fantasy rocks in so many ways ;) Oh and we got cookies!
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - Thank you again for joining me here with this list! :) You are great!
ReplyDeleteRyan G - You know I have Tigana on my shelf here to read, I just need to get to it. I've heard really great things about it. :) Thank you! And I know, you really could go on forever on this one. :) I think we had a whole thread or a few at B&N on this topic. :) Thank you!
Lori Strongin - Oh, so glad to hear you have most of these. :) And yes Name of the Wind is amazing! Thank you for stopping by!
Skyla Dawn - Hi! :) Thank you for stopping by. These sound like really good books there, and I have Elaine's The Sorceress's Orc here to read. I can't wait until I get to open it. :) Thank you!
Alexia - Hi! :) lol. So glad you like the lists here. And hope you find some amazing books you enjoy! Thank you!
Blodeuedd - I think you must have the UK version of Peter Brett's book. I noticed when you called it the Painted man. :) That is pretty cool, I think. :)
Anachronist - lol! Thank you! So glad you loved the lists. And great to hear you have them in your TBR pile. :)
Bibliotropic - Not sadly at all. Glad to have mentioned a few new books to you. :) And hope you enjoy the new ones you found. It is very hard to narrow down the list. I used the last two years of reads as the time frame. But that was still hard. There were a few books that didn't make the list that I wanted to share though. But maybe another day they will show up. :) Thank you!
Audra - Oh, so glad we could introduce some new books to you! :) Thank you for stopping by!
Melissa (Books&Things) - Yep. I'm with Blodeuedd. he he. Fantasy is the bomb. You need to join us more. :) So glad you liked the lists! :) Thank you!
Love the list, so far the only 2 series I have read and they both rock for different reasons are "The Eye Of The World" series by Jordan and Rothfuss first book "Name of The WInd" has me wishing for the second book but since "The Wise Man's Fear" did not release until today and at almost a 100 pages do not have time right now to read it will stay on the wishing to read for some time.
ReplyDeleteI have bookmarked this list ladies, love fantasy myself but do not indulge much anymore. My favorites would include the "Inheritance" series by Christopher Paolini, "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy by Tolkein, "A Song Of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin and of course "The Chronicles of Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis.
>Melissa
ReplyDeleteI guess the library buys UK versions more than US ones. I have seen it before :)
Jackie
I have tried books in all of those, but Tolkien was the only one I yet has to finished ;) Which makes sense since two of those are not yet finished
Jackie B - Oh, soooo glad you enjoyed this list! Oh, I did love reading Chritopher Paolini's series thus far and can't wait for the last book to come out. :) Great additions here. :)
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - That is neat. I always think the UK version of books look so cool after seeing the US on. Although this one is the same cover, just different name. :)
Which makes it pretty boring and mostly confusing. Dunno why they change names
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness! I come over to thank you for stopping by the blog (and also for what we were chatting about over there - even if I don't read the reviews, I'm so grateful for the support!) and I see this! Thank you so much for choosing Crowded Shadows in your top ten! I'm all glowy now :)
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - I wish they didn't change the names. And sometimes I wish that on the covers too. But oh well. :) They are usually beautiful on both sides of the world. :)
ReplyDeleteCeline! Hi! :) You are very welcome. For both. :) I'm just glad you wrote the stories to be enjoyed. And I feel in love with Christopher in Poison Throne, but Crowded Shadows cinched it for me. :) And the Merron! They are wonderful! :) Thank you.
Ok, it must be fate! This is the 2nd post I've read this week about The Wheel of Time series. For some reason, I tried reading the Eye of the World and couldn't get into it (there are sooo many characters...).
ReplyDeleteBUT- It is #1 on your list, which means I need to give it another chance! I also should definitely read The Way of Kings. Have you read read Warbreaker by him? I really, really enjoyed it!!
Also, I COMPLETELY agree with you about Poison Study. Book 1 was an ace, and from there the books just fell apart!
Finally (sorry this comment is so long! lol), you didn't like Graceling?! My friend, we have to chat about this! haha!!
Lisa Read.Breathe.Relax - lol. I haven't given the series a try yet either. But I do think I need to. :) I have read Warebreaker and really loved it! I would love for him to revisit this world again as they travel some. But I need to get back into The Way of Kings. I got just about 1/2 way and stopped. I think the size of it was to much for me. But I did enjoy the world being created here. Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI've had Robert Jordan on my wish list for years. Blodeuedd, you're really making me want to read it even more! I'm intrigued by your description of Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. A good story is one thing but when the language used can take it to another level, it really sticks with you, right?
ReplyDeleteThese are great lists of books! I'm with Ryan, though, Eddings and Kay are my all time faves. And I even got to meet GGK and get my ancient copy of Tigana signed! *fan girl moment* If you haven't read either of these authors, you must!
Jackie - Oh, yes. Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was really a wonderful read. And it's one of those reads where every word is used wonderfully. :) I still have Tigana on the shelves here, and really do need to find time to reading! Geez, just not enough time in the world is there. ;) Thank you!
ReplyDelete