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Taravangian /r/KingkillerChronicle
11 points
1970-01-17 11:15:24.785 +0000 UTC

Thanks for the new thread, guys! To everyone who checks this thread, be sure to upvote the OP so people will be more likely to see it while browsing via all and/or their front page.

Here are a few recommendations from me:


  • Raven's Shadow trilogy, by Anthony Ryan
  • Epic Fantasy, War
  • [amazon] [goodreads]

My favorite Fantasy debut since The Name of the Wind. Like KKC, it employs a frame narrative. In this book though, the frame chapters are the first-person written account of a scribe as he recounts interactions with important figures in the world. The "meat" or inner narrative is third person omniscient. This reveals inconsistencies between what the scribe is told, and what we learn actually happened. Cool narrative format there.

The first book follows just one POV character (other than the scribe's frame chapters), Vaelin al Sorna, as he grows from a boy to a young man and elite warrior. Vaelin also possesses a gift of magic (known to his people as "the Dark" and viewed as a curse by the dominant Faith in his Realm) which manifests as a rare ability: Blood Song. This is a sort of internal "song" that guides his purpose.

The books have some very fascinating religion, philosophy, and culture, and for a debut, they're masterfully integrated into the narrative. The second book incorporates three new POV characters and widens the scope significantly. Some people didn't like that change, but personally I found the second book to be [more or less] on the same level as the first.

Currently two books have been published, with the third due out this July.


  • The First Law trilogy, by Joe Abercrombie
  • Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
  • [amazon] [goodreads]

If you like the pace and atmosphere of KKC, but prefer darker and more mature writing, this is a wonderful bet. I'm only starting book #2 right now, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

Unlike KKC, it has about half a dozen different POV characters. They're pretty much all flawed in some major way, but they're all fascinating too. Abercrombie does a great job fleshing them out and portraying their perspectives. The worldbuilding is great too. If you want something a tad more developed than KKC, with a wider scope, but not approaching A Song of Ice & Fire, or The Wheel of Time levels, then this is definitely a series worth checking out.


  • The Chronicles of Amber series, by Roger Zelazny
  • High Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, SciFi
  • [amazon] [goodreads]

It's a bit hard to pin this down, because the nature of the magic system involves an essentially infinite number of worlds -- including our own -- all of which are imperfect copies of the one true original world, Amber. The MC awakens in a hospital in our world with basically no memories of his past identity. As he seeks to figure out who he is and how he ended up in that hospital, he's quickly thrown into a world of magic, intrigue, adventure, and mystery.

The prose is somewhat flowery, in a way that may appeal to you if you like the KKC prose. It's also written in first person, which may be appealing as well. The magic is unique, the world and cast are equally fascinating. I especially recommend the first five books, known colloquially as "the Corwin cycle". Books 6-10 follow Corwin's son, and they're generally agreed to be a bit below the quality of the first five books.


  • Red Rising trilogy, by Pierce Brown
  • SciFi, Dystopian Fantasy, Y.A
  • [amazon] [goodreads]

Very captivating contemporary SciFi/Fantasy series. Set 700 years in the future, it follows a character born to the lowest caste of a futuristic degraded society. He finds himself in a position to try and overthrow the manipulative ruling class by way of infiltrating their ranks, attempting to bring them down from the inside.

The writing style is fast-paced. Like KKC, it's written in first person. It's also written in the present tense. This really made me feel connected to the protagonist. This series has drawn comparisons to the Hunger Games, but don't let that turn you off. Personally I found it to be very well-written, with an interesting MC, complex side characters, and a highly compelling plot.

Currently two books have been published, with the third likely due out next year.

markymark_inc /r/fantasywriters
1 point
1970-01-16 16:53:04.52 +0000 UTC