Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Recommend a truly epic read

37 replies

ForthegracegoI · 23/10/2023 19:37

I’m really in the mood for something epic (maybe the real world is just too real atm and my book groups keep picking very depressing reads). I used to read a lot fantasy when I was younger, and with the nights drawing in, I think I’m hankering for something along those lines. I loved the Belgariad, the Dragonlance sagas. Big, long Stephen King novels as well - It, The Stand (though I haven’t read the Dark Tower series - 8 books might be too many). I have read the Lord of the Rings too many times, and just tried to read it again but it’s all messed up in my head with the films now. I’ve dipped in and out of YA fantasy, but I’m not really after all the teenage will-they / won’t-they love stories. I tried the Game of Thrones series a while ago but it didn’t really grab me.

So recommend me something really epic: magic powers, imaginary lands, hand drawn maps, quests etc all welcome.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
ReignOfError · 24/10/2023 19:51

Hard agree on Robin Hobb and Dorothy Dunnet. Would add Dunnett’s King Hereafter as well.

Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s The Fey saga. 9 books, the first is The Sacrifice.

John Connolly’s Book of Lost Things, and its semi-sequel The Land of Lost Things. You can read either as a stand alone, but they do relate to each other.

LividTwunt · 24/10/2023 19:45

I cannot believe you’ve not been to The Dark Tower yet.

I also waited way past the time when I should’ve, and he still hasn’t written the last three when I started! Get up that tower.

LaviniasBigBloomers · 24/10/2023 19:41

stayathomer · 23/10/2023 20:05

Was coming on to say Sarah Maas too!

I cracked last night and downloaded the fifth Thorns and Roses book. I was going to leave it a week or so to spin it out, but then on the back of this thread I've now got lots of other series to explore!

Unabletomitigate · 24/10/2023 15:41

The Malazan Book of the Fallen. It. Is. Epic.
It is one of those that starts in the middle, but unbelievable scope.
I read it all again every other year.

JaneyGee · 24/10/2023 15:29

WhileMyDishwasherGentlyWeeps · 23/10/2023 20:18

I know you’ve turned away from LOTR but try again!

It’s the best and most intelligent fantasy work ever.

Yes, I agree. I don’t think LOTRs is even a work of fantasy. Tolkien drew on his vast knowledge of ancient myth and epic, not to mention his unbelievable knowledge of ancient languages (he could read Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Gothic, Finnish…you name it). Unfortunately, the novel’s reputation has been ruined by the endless imitations, and by its obsessive fans. It is a serious and profound work of literature that deserves a place in the canon.

If you don’t want to re-read it, how about the Narnia books? They are immensely enjoyable even as an adult. Like Tolkien, Lewis was a serious, heavyweight intellectual who drew on a vast range of learning to create his world. He also wrote a wonderful trilogy of sci fi novels, which mix in fantasy as well (Merlin appears in one of them). I’d really, really recommend them.

Ladybird69 · 23/10/2023 23:56

Maria v synder she is great and has a number of trilogies/series. My favourite is the poison studies.
stephanie meyers? you know who!!! She wrote twilight series. She wrote a fantastic story called The Host. It is only one book but it’s the size of a brick!!! And in my opinion a much better story.
Mortal instruments Cassandra Clare
Divergent trilogy Veronica Roth
Also I can remember something like the souls or sandman series but it’s at the back of my mind and I can’t remember the exact details. Someone else might know the author.

ATrulyMagnificentBroom · 23/10/2023 22:56

Definitely Robin Hobb, starting with Assassin's Apprentice, or Joe Abercrombie's First Law books, starting with The Blade Itself.

Also, if you liked the five Belgariad books, did you go on to read the five Malloreon books that followed?

smooshraspberry · 23/10/2023 21:05

Off to download a million books now

AthenaWhite · 23/10/2023 20:56

Second Dorothy Dunnett, as epic as it gets.

Also The Dragonbone Chair book 1 of 3. fabulous!

Baboutheocelot · 23/10/2023 20:55

The first law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

BreadandButters · 23/10/2023 20:48

I came here to recommend Robin Hobbs! As pp said, start with the assassin’s apprentice.

That series of books got me through a tough time in my life when it was such a relief to dive into a totally different world!!

CelniceGoldstalker · 23/10/2023 20:45

Mists of Avalon - I loved this and felt quite bereft when I finished it!

BlowDryRat · 23/10/2023 20:35

AluckyEllie · 23/10/2023 20:02

The name of the wind- can’t remember if that is the first or second book. That really gripped me

I loved these books but the author still hasn't gotten round to writing the last book. It's been 12 years so I'm not holding out hope.

indecisivewoman81 · 23/10/2023 20:33

Try;

Imaginary friend by Stephen Chobsky. Brilliant and totally unusual.

Zone2NorthLondon · 23/10/2023 20:30

MaudGone · 23/10/2023 20:00

Is that 'Secret History' by Donna Tartt?

Yes! You’re absolutely right. Typo I apologise

MaisyMary77 · 23/10/2023 20:25

All of the above are great!
The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is brilliant. I also enjoyed The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan, The Cold Fire trilogy by C.S Friedman, and everything by Sarah J Maas.

ClematisWren · 23/10/2023 20:22

Seconding Robin Hobb! Her whole world interacts across several series and is all very readable. That'll keep you going for a while.

I'm currently reading the Dune series (Frank Herbert). I tried them when younger and could never get away with them, but I'm finding them fascinating now in my mid-40's and a lot more worldly. On volume 5 and can't put it down. Technically Sci Fi but there's a lot of fantasy/ world building in there, 'magical' powers that are explained as genetics, fascinating characters.

TheDogIsInCharge · 23/10/2023 20:22

QueenOfThorns · 23/10/2023 20:04

Have you read the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay?

I came along to recommend this. Epic saga, lots of historical references. I haven't read it for years but I adored it and read it many time when i was younger.

WhileMyDishwasherGentlyWeeps · 23/10/2023 20:18

I know you’ve turned away from LOTR but try again!

It’s the best and most intelligent fantasy work ever.

Original poster
ForthegracegoI · 23/10/2023 20:18

Cheers all of you! Off to explore on Amazon / Abe.

I’ve read some of these, but not many.

OP posts:
lokijet · 23/10/2023 20:16

Try either of the Dorothy Dunnett series

Lymond traverses tudor europe/ ottoman empire - politics, drama

Niccolo is set earlier and crosses Europe and Africa- think medicci

Both have huge historical context and lots of real characters interlaced with the fictional

Hyperion100 · 23/10/2023 20:15

Swan song by robert r macammon

Sconehenge · 23/10/2023 20:07

I second a lot of these recommendations! Name of Wind, Wheel of Time and Guy Gavriel Kay are great. The very best however is Robin Hobb. Start with Assassin’s Apprentice and you’ve got 12 books ahead of you - about as questy and mappy as you can get!

stayathomer · 23/10/2023 20:05

Was coming on to say Sarah Maas too!

QueenOfThorns · 23/10/2023 20:04

Have you read the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay?

Swipe left for the next trending thread