Recommendations for fantasy or sci-fi please

Ooh yes, I'd completely forgotten about the Gentleman Bastard series, which starts with the Lies of Locke Lamora. Probably the most imaginative fantasy series ever?!

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the Darker Shades of Magic trilogy by Victoria Schwab. I'm currently on the first (I was swayed by the design of the gorgeous hardback edition) and am absolutely loving it! The essence is that there are four "Londons" in sort of parralell magical universes, each of which have varying degrees of magic (Grey London would be the one we know as i has no magic). There are, of course, a select few individuals who can travel between them, and peril along the way.

I also absolutely ADORE Nevernight and it's sequel, Godsgrave (released last week). I think it was originally marketed as YA fantasy, but it's really, really not. It follows the story of Mia Corvere, a fledgeling assassin and "darkin" who is able to control shadows. Very bloody, with frequent adult scenes and a lot of swearing, but it is fabulous

Haven't read the GoT series yet, though I probably should. There's a lovely illustrated edition (spotted in Asda recently for a song!) which I may yet purchase.

A lovely bookseller recommended The Lies of Locke Lamora based on my recent purchases, though I haven't yet started.

Also, American Gods by Neil Gaiman is a great book.

I just remembered Fortunes Rising by Sara King. It's fantasy/sci fi, I usually am less keen on fantasy but this enthralled me. I'd forgotten about it because I was frustrated that she hadn't written the second book yet, but now I see that she has so I'll be reading that this weekend.

Loads of great suggestions here. I would add Mark Chadbourn's 'Age of Misrule' trilogy - magic and ancient mythology return to modern Britain, chaos ensues. I was absolutely hooked.

There's a follow up series too but I haven't got round to that yet .

Diana Wynne jones, especially the ones aimed at older readers ("a sudden wild magic" "hexwood", "deep secret" to get you started. So so so good.

Seconding Diana Wynne Jones - she's great.

On Neil Gaiman - OP, I agree entirely about Ocean At The End Of The Lane. It was a perfectly inoffensive book, but I finished it and thought "so what?" It was just an entirely pointless, forgettable event for me. If you go for Gaiman again either try "Stardust" (great) or his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, "Good Omens".

If you like GoT, Robert C Crane Sanctuary series is for you. I think the first couple are free on Amazon at the moment. Can't remember how many are in the series but it's a complete storyline. It's magical fantasy set in a medieval time on another planet with lots of battles and great characters. I love, love, love his other series: Girl In/ Out of the Box and the gruesome and gross Southern Cross. It took me three attempts to get started in Sanctuary but then I loved them and reread them often. My current fave author and the first books in the series are free if you want to try them out.

Currently reading and enjoying the Atlantis Grail series. I like GoT but am frustrated at the long wait for the next book.

Yes definitely agree go back to Pratchett and read the Witches books or Monstrous Regiment or m all time favourite Nightwatch. These all all so much better than the first two.

Gordon R. Dickson's Dragon Knight series

• Jim Eckart is transported from modern days to a fantasy middle ages where he discovers he can turn into a dragon

Christopher Stasheff's Warlock Series are humourous

• Rod Gallowglass is a 31st century interstellar policeman sent to find out what's happening on the planet Gramayre where colonists deliberately took up a medieval lifestyle. He is aided by his robot horse Fess and to his intense surprise meets witches, goblins and fairies who can apparently do magic.

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files

• Harry Dresden is Chicago's only consulting wizard.

Terry Brooks Shannara series, Raymond E Feist Magician, Robin Hobb, Cecilia Dart-Thornton Bitterbynde trilogy, David Eddings, Laini Taylor Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Anne McCaffrey, Ilona Andrews, The wheel of Time series but I got a bit bored after book 14...

Oh and for modern fantasy/crime then I love the Rivers of London.

The Drowning of Arthur Braxton also worth a read.

Another Robin Hobb fan here. Also second Garth Nix.

I love sci-fi but it is quite different really - a lot of the time it is posing questions and making you think. Fantasy to me tends to be more character led. (Making gross generalisations I know).

Not writing. Reading. I am not, myself, Genevieve cogman...

I would personally swerve Game of Thrones until he finishes it (if he ever does) I read it years ago thinking it was a complete series and then spent the next years being grumpy about having to wait. The TV show has helped fill the void.

Definitely second the suggestions of Magician (and subsequent) by Raymond Feist and Wheel of time by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson), and Trudi Canavan's books!!

Diana Wynne jones, especially the ones aimed at older readers ("a sudden wild magic" "hexwood", "deep secret" to get you started. So so so good.

Neil gaiman "stardust"

Obvs all the WoT and Sanderson and feist and canavan recommendations, too.

I'm writing Genevieve Cogman at the moment. Not bad, though she's no Robert Jordan...

If you like steampunk then the Mortal Engines quartet is excellent (though a little dark).

I've also been enjoying Brent Weeks Black Prism series, though lost momentum when i had to wait for the next book to be finished

Robin Hobb's Liveship trilogy is awesome, and the other series are good too. Another Robin - McKinley, is an amazing storyteller - she has re-written quite a few fairytales from a female perspective, and her earlier fantasy novels ( I think actually aimed at young adults) The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown are great. Very GoT. Less sex though, as young adulty...

Another vote for Patrick Rothfuss 'The Name of the Wind' and 'The Wise Man's Fear' (books 1 and 2 in his trilogy - eagerly awaiting book 3). Name of the Wind is my favourite book in the world! Even better than LotR (sacrilege, I know).

Brian Harmon - the 'Rushed' series

I agree with the Marion Zimmer Bradley recommendation, GemmaB78 and the Trudi Canvan books Crumble82

Not Canaan, Canavan!

Anything by Trudi Canaan. She's written a few trilogies so you can lose yourself for a while!

Wheel of time is a great series as is sword of truth. I really enjoyed Robin Hobbs the Farseer trilogy and I've just started the live ship traders trilogy. All really good books and a great read :)

Robin Hobb Assassins Apprentice trilogy - amazing books, I've bought them for loads of people who've all loved them

Dune by Frank Herbert
I Robot by Isaac Azimov - the father of sci fi