(Part 2) Best products from r/Fantasy

Some of my favorite books available on Kindle Unlimited:

They Mostly Come Out At Night and Where the Waters Turn Black by Benedict Patrick

Paternus by Dyrk Ashton

Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes

The Half Killed by Quenby Olson

A Star Reckoners Lot by Darrell Drake

Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe

Jaeth's Eye by K. S. Villoso


Here are some that I haven't read, but have heard mostly positive things about:

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

Revenant Winds by Mitchell Hogan

Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R Fletcher

A Warrior's Path by Davis Ashura

Valley of Embers by Steven Kelliher

Faithless by Graham Austin-King. He also has another series, The Riven Wyrde Saga, beginning with Fae - The Wild Hunt

Ours is the Storm by D. Thourson Palmer

Path of Man by Matt Moss

Threat of Madness by D.K. Holmberg

To Whatever End by Claire Frank

House of Blades by Will Wight

Path of Flames by Phil Tucker

The Woven Ring by M. D. Presley

Awaken Online: Catharsis by Travis Bagwell

Wolf of the North by Duncan M. Hamilton

Free the Darkness by Kel Kade

The Cycle of Arawn Trilogy by Edward W. Robinson

Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw

Benjamim Ashwood by AC Cobble

The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson

The Queens Poinsoner by Jeff Wheeler

Stiger's Tigers by Marc Alan Edelheit 

Rise of the Ranger by Philip C. Quaintrell 

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron

Devil's Night Dawning by Damien Black


Here are some older fantasy and sci-fi books that I enjoyed:

Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany - African inspired S&S by an extremely talented writer.

Witch World as well as other good books by Andre Norton

Swords and Deviltry The first volume of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser by Fritz Leiber - Many of the tropes of the rogue/thief came from this legendary duo created by Leiber. And it's worth noting that Leiber actually coined the term Sword & Sorcery. This collection contains 3 stories, two average origin stories for each character and the final story is the Hugo and Nebula winning novella "Ill Met in Lankhmar" detailing the first meeting of Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser.

Swords Against Darkness - A '70s S&S anthology. It has few stinkers, a few mediocre stories, and a some really good ones. Poul Anderson and Ramsey Campbell both have awesome stories in this anthology that are well worth checking out. For some reason, there were quite a few typos in this book, it was slightly distracting, but may have been fixed since I read it.

The Best of C. L. Moore by C. L. Moore. I read this earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. The collection is all sci-fi and one Jirel of Joiry story, which is her famous female Sword & Sorcery character. I was suprised by how well her sci-fi stories held up, often times pulp sci-fi doesn't age well, but this collection was great. Moore was married to the writer Henry Kuttner, and up until his death they wrote a bunch of great stories together. Both of their collections are basically collaborations, although I'm sure a few stories were done solo. His collection The Best of Henry Kuttner features the short story that the movie The Last Mimzy was based on. And, if you are into the original Twilight Zone TV series there is a story that was adapted into a memorable season 1 episode entitled "What You Need". Kuttner and Moore are two of my favorite pulp authors and I'm not even that into science fiction, but I really enjoy their work.

Glad you liked the book!

I consider SAM to be somewhat of a mix between a "hard magic" epic fantasy novel and something in the LitRPG genre. As such, I'd recommend taking a look at options within both genres.

There are some good suggestions here already. I'll second Threadbare, Mother of Learning, and Will Wight's Cradle series. Those are all excellent choices.

If you're looking for more hard magic fantasy books, I recommend the following:

• The Way of Kings is the first book in the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. It’s a bit of a slow start – the book is around a thousand pages – but Sanderon excels at world building, internal consistency, and “avalanche” endings where many plot threads come together at once.
  
  
• Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers by Ishio Yamagata is fantastic if you enjoy fantasy mixed with mysteries. Not all of it has been translated yet, but the first couple books are out.
  
  If you want to try some other LitRPG books, I'd recommend the following:
  
  In terms of published Western LitRPGs, I'd say Ascend Online is my favorite. The central protagonist isn't a complete psychopath like a lot of LitRPG protagonists, and he immediately starts treating the highly intelligent AI NPCs as people. That's a huge selling point for me, since it's so rare to see LitRPG protagonists that are friendly to NPCs.
  
  Also, rather than immediately jumping into save the world stuff, it's reasonably paced. The main character doesn't start out with any crazy game breaking abilities, and the setting itself feels largely realistic - it feels very similar to a futuristic version of Everquest.
  
  In terms of non-Western LitRPGs, Log Horizon is my favorite. The author has clearly played MMORPGs, and the tactics used in there - both by the main character and other characters - feel like the types of things real people would do in a MMO setting. Once again, the main character also takes NPCs seriously and treats them well, which is a big plus for me. Shiroe for Log Horizon is probably the closest character I've seen to someone with my own background in a book.
  
  I also love I'm a Spider, So What?, which is a hilarious story about a girl who gets reincarnated into an RPG setting as a tiny spider monster. Fortunately, she can grind to get stronger! It's a bit of a strange one, but tons of fun. Note that this one is not strictly going into a VR game - they're just reincarnated in a world with RPG stats. It's a little different, but similar.
  
  If you want a character that's actively looking for bugs and exploits, I'd recommend Kono Sekai ga Game da to Ore dake ga Shitteiru. I enjoyed the first book a ton. The second book started getting into tropes I didn’t enjoy quite as much.
  
  One of my other recent favorites is The Tutorial is Too Hard, which focuses on a main character transported into a dungeon on “Hell” difficulty that needs to make his way through to the top floor. We see a lot of his analytical process, which gives it a somewhat similar feel to Sufficiently Advanced Magic.

I don't have many specifics in mind, for any of my books, but the one thing I've always felt strongly about is that I'd dearly love any movie adaptation to have a score composed by Brian Tyler. The man's a genius.

For Below, I can't think of too many known directors who'd treat it well, but I've always liked Ron Howard's steady hand. I wouldn't say no to Joss Whedon or JJ Abrams getting involved; Whedon in particular would be a huge help in the transition from book to movie, making sure the screenplay stayed on target. Casting would be incredibly tough, because the main cast ranges from 17 to 36 in age, and you'd need a lot of unknowns. You could use some slightly older actors with the justification this is a medieval setting, but it can't go too far. The main antagonist is one of the older characters, at least.

Thinking about concept artists, while I don't have a specific one in mind (but hats off to my cover artist), I believe the very best approach would be to hire a small cadre of acclaimed artists from D&D, MtG, etc. and put all of their slightly competing styles to use. The ruins are too huge, and too varied in history and construction, for a single artistic vision to win out.

Of all my books though, I think The Affix has the best movie potential because it's short, fast-paced, and delivers on the action. Most of the good guys are in their mid-twenties, but you could find some solid up-and-coming names to fill them; the villains, and there are so many, would be way more fun to cast. (I have just a few in mind. I'd adore Jordan Peele as Seth Gable, although the role is perhaps too small to do him justice. And I kinda think it'd be cool to see Jasmine Treager played by prolific commercial actress Rachelle Wood, who inspired the look of the character.) I'd still want Brian Tyler at the helm musically. Here a director would be easy to name, because I'd want John Landis; the book was written with some of his vibe in mind, especially his film Into the Night. There are other directors who can probably handle all the action and even the quieter scenes well, but Landis always brought a special weird energy to his films that this one would benefit greatly from.

Midnight outside the r/fantasy literary bistro. The lone busker is having no luck with slow Paul Simon/Dan Fogelberg medleys. He stands, clears throat, strikes a proud B# and begins something fast and loud.

It's been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side
and said “Well maybe.”
Five days since you laughed at me saying
“I get you’re funny but kinda literary.”
Three days since the mods stepped in,
I realized it's all my fault, but can’t send a DM.
Yesterday you unblocked me,
But it'll still be two days till you buy my fantasy.

Click it now and watch the kindle blink,
As I make the reader stop, think.
You'll think you're reading about Aragorn.
I’ll summon Gollum with a fish,
All the Nazgul if you wish
I can’t be sued for this
Cause the trope’s already over-worn.

Hot like Tolkien when I bust rhymes
Big like George Martin, I’m, I’m…
Because I'm all about value!
Neil Gaiman's got the fab hits
I’ve got self published crits.
Obscurity tries to hold me but I bust through.

Gonna give my hero a day in the park,
I don’t like it too gross or grim or dark.
I like Zelazny, Corwin hasn’t got an equal.
You gotta give me one look,
Cause when you buy just one book,
I’ll have you on the Elmo hook.
“Quest” it's so adventurous
You'll have to buy the sequel.

How can I help it if I think I’m funny when I’m deep?
Trying hard not to self-promote ‘cause I feel cheap.
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a mirror
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, I’ll make it clearer.
I have a tendency to put my thoughts in my works.
I have a history of not selling my books.

It's been one week since you looked at me
DM’d the mods and said “he’s crazy”.
Five days since you three-starred me
I've still got the teary emoji on my FB feed.
It's been three days since the SFPBO.
You realized its parody not a put on.
Yesterday you reconsidered me.
And now I sit back and wait till you click on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/St-Elmo-Raymond/e/B01N3ABAIO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1564448077&sr=8-1.)

Smaug, Orm and Drogon: always have a dragon.
One rain of fire and your brain stops draggin’.
Reading Shirley Jackson, at midnight,
Under blanket with a flashlight.
I hope the ghosts are real in this one.

Like Fiver and Ged I'm getting mystic
Like Patchface I’m a bit eccentric.
But my plots always satisfy.
Like Butcher I like a paladin.
Okay I know I’m not him,
But if I were they'd have a good guy.

Gonna get a set of better covers,
Maybe the kind with undead lovers.
Just so my books aren't always shelved with the lit fics.
Gotta get that look of red swords and dark cloaks
Cause my covers now have folks in weird kilts
That make you think the wrong thing.

How can I help it if I think I’m funny when I’m deep
Trying hard to self-promote though I feel cheap.
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a reddit
Can you give Quest a chance?
You won’t regret it.
I have a tendency to put my mind in my books.
I have a history of getting strange looks.

It's been one week since you messaged me
Read a review and asked is it KU?
Five days since I down-voted you and said
You just asked what I thought you were gonna do.
Three days since the mods stepped in.
We realized we're both to blame, but what could we do?
Yesterday you just up-voted me
Cause it’s been days since you said you’d try me.

There are still lots of ways for you to try me.
Best way today is just go and buy me.
(r/fantasy: home of the Stabby)

Quest of the Five Clans, by Raymond St. Elmo

I'll add some of my favorites that you didn't mention. They are mostly Superhero, because that's what got me into self published authors that are frequently on KU.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis Taylor. Great sci fi with plenty of humor and nerdy pop culture references, but also a fare share of danger and adventure. KU has all 3 books in the Bobiverse.

Sensation: A Superhero Novel by Kevin Hardman. This is a YA Super Hero novel, and is the first of 7 along with a couple spinoffs and short stories. The author also has a sci fi series and a fantasy series, but I haven't read them yet. I'm pretty sure all of his books are on KU.

Into the Labyrinth by John Bierce. This is the Mage Errant series. The 3rd book just came out, and there is a post here by the author. This is a book centered on a magical school, and it has a very good and detailed hard magic system.

Fid's Crusade by David Reiss. This is a Super Villain novel, and is darker than a lot of superhero books out there. There are currently 3 books in the Chronicles of Fid. I've only read the first one but I really liked it, and I even bought it when it was on sale so I could go back and read it again sometime instead of relying on it being on KU forever.

Arsenal by Jeffery H. Haskell. Another Super Hero novel, this one is probably in between the other two I mentioned in terms of tone, being darker than Kid Sensasion, but lighter than Fid. The protagonist is disabled and in a wheel chair, but made an awesome suit of armor to become a hero. There are 8 books in the series, and there is another series set in the same world with the 4th book coming at the end of the month. All of them are on KU.

Attention r/Fantasy! My novel Mistress Mage is now released in audio book format. Mistress Mage continues the story of Reshi and Kestral that began in the SPFBO 2018 Semi-Finalist Sorcerous Rivalry. Both of these works are narrated by the amazing Scott R. Smith, make sure you check them out!

Wondering what’s coming up next? Come on by and visit my website for blog updates, progress reports on next books (including Reshi & Kestral – Book 3), and a couple Bonus Stories that occur between books and didn’t quite fit in.

Interested in trying Sorcerous Rivalry for free? If you are familiar with Book Siren, you can get a digital copy in exchange for honest reviews. If that sounds good to you, follow the link here.

​

For Bingo enthusiasts, I’ve listed all of the categories my works can qualify for below:

Sorcerous Rivalry, a Semi-Finalist in SPFBO 2018, qualifies for the following 2019 Book Bingo squares:

• Self-Published Novel
  
• SFF Novel Featuring Twins
  
• Format: Audiobook
  
• SFF Novel by a Local to You Author (Long Island, New York)
  
  Mistress Mage, the sequel to Sorcerous Rivalry, qualifies for the following 2019 Book Bingo squares:
  
  
• Self-Published Novel
  
• SFF Novel Featuring Twins
  
• Format: Audiobook
  
• SFF Novel by a Local to You Author (Long Island, New York)
  
  The Mage-Born Anthology qualifies for the following 2019 Book Bingo squares:
  
  
• Self-Published Novel (HARD MODE Eligible)
  
• SFF Novel Featuring Twins (HARD MODE Eligible)
  
• SFF Novel by a Local to You Author (Long Island, New York)
  
• SFF Novel Published in 2019
  
• Five SFF Short Stories (HARD MODE Eligible)

My work has recently become quite varied. I started off writing fantasy in 2010, and now that I'm almost done my first trilogy, I've started thinking about other side projects more seriously.

While I'm continuing to write novels (70,000 words into my fourth novel), I'm also creating a board game and starting work on a comic. Both of the new projects are related to the world I've been exploring through my novels, which I created about two decades ago through role playing.

As much as I love the praise and glowing reviews for writing, it's something else entirely when I see people enjoying my board game prototype in real time. One day I had 4 people show up to play, so I sat it out and just watched. One of the players was a fan of my books and kept gushing about them while playing the game... so much that two of the other players picked up my first book that night, and the other picked it up the next day when he got paid. So when I went back to the game cafe a few days later, one of the players was there and immediately said, "I have a BIG problem with your book!" After a long pause he said, "It's too f*ing addicting!" I couldn't ask for higher praise, and all three people have enjoyed the first book tremendously. In fact, that person who "complained" about my books being too addicting is done reading both my novels and an accompanying novella, and can't wait for the last book to come out.

It's amazing how branching into new interests is bringing new readers into the fold. The most difficult part of being an indie author is finding readers, and it looks like spreading a wide net across different types of media is going to help a lot.

Now I've found an artist and I'm starting to plan out this web comic, which I have high hopes for. I'll be launching a Kickstarter for it in a couple months, once I've figured out all the different paths it will take. The artist is someone I just found, and he's excited about the project and its unique elements.

If you're interested in where I started out, you can start at book 1, A Noble's Quest, too. It's been a lot of fun, and one day I hope I can do this kind of creative work full time, instead of just as a hobby!

I love this thread idea, though I feel like it's already mostly covered by the "What did you read this month?" thread. Still, far be it from me to not shove my preferences in everyones face.

Anything Lindsay Buroker puts out. Most known for her Emperor's Edge books. First one is free, just try it. Steampunk, bit of romance, fun cast of characters. It's nothing revolutionary, honestly, but I just have so much fun reading her stuff and I can't even tell you why. I'm just an absolute addict and she provides the crack in a timely manner. You think Sanderson writes like a machine? This woman must have self-triplicated somewhere along the line. 5+ books a year.

Next up would be J.S. Morin's Twinborn books. It's not exactly unknown on here, but it still needs a mention. Two series, one building on the other. Excellent work-building, cool characters, can't wait for what the author does next. It's mostly traditional Fantasy as you can get, but featuring Pirates, Magic, Empires, Demi-Gods and as of the 2nd series Steampunk, bit of SF and Transhumanism. Excellent stuff.

I also greatly enjoyed the short, fun read that was Larkspur. Not unknown on here either as the author frequents /r/fantasy relatively often, but still. MORE DAMN YOU!

Also, [Fae - The Wild Hunt] (http://www.amazon.com/Fae-Wild-Hunt-Riven-Wyrde-ebook/dp/B00IWOW2Y8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1417986097&sr=1-1&keywords=graham+austin+king) by Graham Austin-King. He has a promo thread for the 2nd volume up on here right now anyway, but who cares? I loved the first book. Dark fairy-tale, novel approach to multiple POV story-telling. Can't wait for tomorrow. (2nd book release)

Lastly, [Book of Deacon] (http://www.amazon.com/Book-Deacon-ebook/dp/B0036FTF4S/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1417986518&sr=1-1&keywords=book+of+deacon) by Joseph R. Lallo. Counting by the Amazon reviews it isn't exactly obscure, but I never saw it mentioned on here. Quite traditional "chosen one, save the world" Fantasy, but what makes this series is the diverse cast. There's a human magician and there's a fox and a dragon and... I'll just shut up now. Traditional in many ways, not so much in others.

It has been many ages it seems since I last pressed upon you all to buy my book. To be sure there are many newcomers to the fold who have yet to hear of its existence. By now you are no doubt asking if I really talk like this.

Well, no, but it got your attention right? LOL


Talindor's Guest is my first fantasy book, and is the first book set in my multiverse called Novyra (streams/currents of existence)

The story follows a mysterious being who travels the currents for purposes later revealed in the book. He happens on a world made desolate by the great and powerful Talindor.

After happening upon Talindor's lair, the traveler must regale his host with tales of his travels, or risk becoming Talindor's next meal.

If you enjoy world hopping, storytelling romps through the imagination of crazy authors like myself, then this book is for you. Convinced yet? Awesome! I hope you enjoy. As always, don't forget to help an author out with an honest review. #takesabow

Keegan is one of the more accessible military history writers.

I feel rather dumb asking this question but have you read Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books? On the off chance you have not read them (which I feel crazy even suggesting, but you never know) I'd dig into some right away. Royce and Hadrian strike me as similar in some ways to that famous duo.

In answer to the original post. I need heroes as well. In my book I do try to explore heroism. The Gladiators are performers who are presented to the audience as heroes, but in many cases are just doing their job and trying to gain fame and fortune. The main character is someone who chose to be a Gladiator because he believes in heroism and goodness. This makes him a rather bad Gladiator in many ways, and the story is partly about how he comes to terms with this. I really like hero stories :)

Currently a FINALIST for the 2018 BookLife Prize!

​

For more than two decades, the sight of Doctor Fid's powered armor has struck terror into the hearts of hero and civilian alike. But when a personal tragedy motivates the veteran supervillain to investigate a crime, a plot is uncovered so horrific that even he is taken aback.

Haunted by painful memories and profound guilt, Doctor Fid must race against time if he is to have any hope of confronting the approaching threat. Every battle takes its toll...but the stakes are too high for retreat to be an option.

Read the supervillainous action-thriller that critics have called "immediately engaging", "ridiculously fun", and "a solid foundation for a new series!"

​

Fid's Crusade is available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C92PMDH ), as is the sequel, Behind Distant Stars ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G95MZ2S ).

To celebrate earning a nomination as a finalist for the 2018 BookLife Prize, the eBook for Fid's Crusade will be free until 11/9/18

​

PRAISE FOR FID'S CRUSADE

​

"Brainy, snarky Doctor Fid is as likeable as a supervillain gets. This book offers an energetic, ridiculously fun storyline that will feel like the 'adult' version of Despicable Me"

- The BookLife Prize

​

"...manages to meld the intrigue of an action thriller, technical geekdom of sci-fi, cadence and form of classic writers, and the fun of graphic novels."

- JPFlo (Amazon Reviewer)

​

"David H Reiss presents a humorous and intelligently-written take on the superhero genre that's well grounded in adult thriller and conspiracy fiction (...) Overall, I'd definitely recommend Fid's Crusade as an innovative homage to superhero fiction that elevates storytelling for the modern age."

- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

​

"Fid's Crusade by David H. Reiss is one of the most refreshing and lively takes on the superhero genre I've seen in years. His title character's crusade is colorful, compelling, and takes wonderfully unexpected turns, and the novel delivers an impressive emotional punch (to go along with the super-powered ones). It stands easily alongside other character-driven superhero novels like Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible, Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age, and Paul Tobin's Prepare to Die!."

- Hugo award-winning author Tim Pratt

I haven't found anything quite like Mother of Learning but it happens to be one of my favorites since it hits everything I like in a book. One of my favorite aspects of MoL is how the main character progressively learns new things and get stronger. This is demonstrated a lot in the litRPG genre (which has a lot of ties with video game RPG style leveling up) so I think any fan of Mother of Learning would like litRPG.

Here are some good litrpg books on kindle:

1. Survival Quest. Book 1 in the Way of the Shaman series by Vasily Mahanenko. It is written originally in Russian but professionally translated into English. The main character is a prisoner placed into a Virtual Reality MMORPG to mine ore and soon he develops all kinds of unusual high level crafting and professions while finding continuous rare epic level questlines. It has tremendously fast pacing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I really like the focus on the crafting aspects of MMORPGs and also how the main character chooses to take unusual and clever paths in completing quests and follows his intuition instead of relying on strategy guides and such (mainly because as a prisoner he is unable to access the outside internet). My only gripe is that there might a little too much Deus Ex Machina at times but really enjoyable read otherwise. 5 of the 7 books have been translated into English so far and the last two should be translated by the end of 2017. https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Quest-Way-Shaman-LitRPG-ebook/dp/B00VQRW14E/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495212440&sr=1-3&keywords=way+of+the+shaman
   
   
2. Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko. Book 1 in a new litrpg series. The main character joins a new immersive MMORPG and finds a rural village where he establishes roots. The NPCs are uncannily lifelike and he worries that when the main base of players reach the village they will abuse or treat the NPCs poorly. His real life friends meet up with him and they work hard to defend the village from an incoming army of violent players. Really cool story, the characters level up and gain new skills, magic, and abilities. https://www.amazon.com/Ascend-Online-Luke-Chmilenko-ebook/dp/B01M01ET8E
   
   
3. The Dragon's Wrath Series by Brent Roth - Really cool main character who builds his own village in VRMMORPG and starts caring for the NPCs as real people. He develops a unique fighting style and becomes really strong but his village becomes a target from other jealous players/guilds. Warning: This series might not finish though since the author has bad health and he has delayed book 4 for quite some time. Best series in the genre though. https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Wrath-Virtual-Dream-ebook/dp/B00W2L8VGU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495212376&sr=1-1&keywords=a+virtual+dream
   
   
4. Viridian Gate Online - https://www.amazon.com/Viridian-Gate-Online-Cataclysm-Adventure-ebook/dp/B01MU0DYXW/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495212396&sr=1-2&keywords=viridian+gate+online
   
   
5. Project Daily Grind. Mirror World Series - https://www.amazon.com/Project-Daily-Grind-Mirror-LitRPG-ebook/dp/B01AF0Z3CE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495742577&sr=8-3&keywords=mirror+world
   
   
6. Eden's Gate - https://www.amazon.com/Edens-Gate-Reborn-LitRPG-Adventure-ebook/dp/B01MV2A0L4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495742620&sr=8-2&keywords=eden%27s+gate
   

some of the more popular ones:

Cradle: journey of a young man as he grows to become ever more powerful, first 3 books are free on Amazon right now:

https://www.amazon.com/Cradle-Foundation-Collected-Book-ebook/dp/B076G8DVN6

​

Riyria Revelations, starting with Theft of Swords, follow the adventures of a warrior and an assassin with a mysterious past.

https://www.amazon.com/Theft-Swords-Revelations-Michael-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B005N6MDBA

​

If you like RPG computer games, there is a whole section of fantasy and SF books categorized as litRPG or gameLit which are easy to pick up and are fun to read. Some examples:

-Awaken Online

-Limitless Lands

-Everybody Loves Large Chests (can also be read for free online)

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/8894/everybody-loves-large-chests/

I'm well past the cut off point (shakes fist angrily at sleep and not checking Reddit before bed) but if anyone is looking for something to read you might enjoy The Great Hearts
A dark fantasy filled with violence, magic and a gigantic panther.

As an aside the support in this thread and the r/fantasy community in general is fantastic. To everyone who is reviewing books, thanks, it means a great deal to a fledgling self pub!

Copying my post from this thread:


"You want Francis James Blair's Bulletproof Witch! It's pretty short, but book two's coming out soon.

Mistborn Era 2 is pretty excellent, to my mind- it's just a very different beast than Era 1, and I think a lot of people really wanted it to be the same.

There's also a pretty good collection of Weird West short stories I picked up a few years ago called Westward Weird that's worth checking out."

Hey r/Fantasy! I’m back with another one of my weird west stories with the magic bullets, daemons, and talking horses. These are set in an original fantasy world based (loosely) on the United States of the late 1800s. In thanks for the community always being here with a smile and friendly recommendation for me, I’ve got the first book in my series FREE until Sunday night, and the second book is only $0.99 (In the US only, £0.99 in the UK starting 5/26)!

For anyone unsure if this series is for them, I humbly offer the following blurb:

Temperance Whiteoak is the last surviving heir to her grandfather’s legacy. Gunslinger. Daemon-hunter. Witch. Able to call forth powerful magicks with the pull of a trigger, she travels the continent of Korvana seeking after the creature that destroyed her town along with everyone she ever knew and loved.

The links below are episodes one and two of an eight-part series, and not only include a gunslinging story, but also fantastic interior art as well by artist Jin Lee! If any of the links below don’t work, feel free to shoot me a message, and thanks for taking the time to check out my stories!

Episode 1 - US Link

Episode 2 - US Link

International Links for Episode 1:

Canada

UK

Australia

Germany

Spain

Italy

Netherlands

Japan

India

Brazil

Mexico

International Links for Episode 2 (starting 5/26):

UK

The Land is pretty ok, you just have to get past A.K.'s writing idiosyncrasies. Everybody Loves Large Chest is an online serial. It's very gory, weird, and weirdly sexual. Ascend online is a great fantasy mmorpg. Really well written. Awaken online is very good book from the perspective of the "villain". Dark. Survival quest is pretty good Russian translated litrpg. Patch 17 is from a guy stuck in a mmorpg hell. Dragon's wrath is kind of just a town building litrpg, but is enjoyable enough. Unbound deathlord is pretty good dark book about the underdark, or whatever he calls it in that book.

I don't know if you only want fantasy recommendations, but Cormac is one of my favourite authors, so maybe you'd appreciate western, frontier and historical fiction recommendations? If so - Lonesome Dove for western, The Revenant for frontier, Wolf of the Plains (about Genghis Khan) when it comes to historical fiction.

All of them hit the spot for gritty resilience despite bleak circumstances (well, Lonesome Dove is lighter than the others and much less bleak but an amazing read if you haven't already, and definitely an example of resilience). There's also The Son for another gritty western. And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave, a southern gothic novel. There's others in a similar vein I'd consider recommending but I haven't read them yet...

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Those I haven't read yet but have heard great things about and their similarity to Cormac - Provinces of Night by William Gray (" Life blindsides you so hard you can taste the bright copper blood in your mouth then it beguiles you with a gift of profound and appalling beauty. ") and In the Rogue Blood by J. Blake... And more!

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Also please excuse my throwing in of one of mine - WULF - sci-fantasy/western with later dystopian themes in the series. A major theme of the series is about coming together to fatalistically and with gritted teeth plowing on through increasingly desperate and hopeless circumstances and lands (though not without a lot of wild adventure, gunfights and irreverent humour). Anyway, it's free to download! https://www.amazon.com/WULF-Weird-Sci-Fantasy-Western-Fifth-ebook/dp/B01NBLPFZF

Wardens of Issalia Complete Series Boxed Set (averages 4.7 stars on Amazon, 4.51 on Goodreads) is $0.99 on Amazon US and Amazon UK through Monday, November 11th. It's a coming of age/epic fantasy adventure (fits Progression Fantasy trope as well).

Individual books also available on Audible for your listening enjoyment.

Synopsis:

A team of agents must infiltrate and eliminate an enemy empire bent on conquest. The fate of the world, and of anyone who can wield magic, is at stake.
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1,300 pages of MAGIC, INTRIGUE, TWISTS, and BETRAYAL
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Meet the Wardens of Issalia:


Everson is an awkward, disabled teen and a brilliant gadgeteer, melding magic with science. His greatest discovery could liberate him and change the world...or, it could destroy everything. 

Quinn's fiery spirit and relentless determination fuel her desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Trained as an espion, she finds herself alone in the heart of an enemy stronghold. If only she knew whom she could trust.

Brandt is a prankster who lacks a sense of purpose. As a warden, he is forged into something more, building upon his fearless nature and his ability to wield frightening magic. Will his courage be enough when the fate of thousands hangs in the balance?

Cassie is Brandt's twin sister. This powerful arcanist discovers magic abilities unlike anything recorded. What new ability will she discover next?
Puri, a highly skilled archer, is assigned the role of ranger, destined for missions rife with danger.  How many will die if she fails?

Curan, trains as a wildcat: a warrior augmented by magic, capable of slaying dozens of enemy soldiers with ease. Can he overcome the ghosts of those who die by his sword?
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A thrilling fantasy adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of Mistborn, Kingfountain, or Six of Crows.

I agree with a lot of the suggestions so far.

Fritz Lieber's Lankhmar books, while there are a lot of them, are quick reads, and well worth checking out if you haven't read them.

Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories are worth a read, too.

If you haven't already read Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Cycle, you might enjoy them, and they are short and easy reads.

J.D. Hallowell's War of the Blades series is only two books, definitely quick reads.

Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations should definitely be on your list.

Check out my latest novel, The Sangrook Saga. It's the family saga of a clan of doomed necromancer, told in seven parts. If you like Dark Souls, villain protagonists, or fantasy horror, maybe you'll like this.

They have been called warlords, necromancers, demon-worshipers, torturers, and monsters. The Sangrooks ruled half the world before they were defeated, but they were not eradicated. The menace of the Sangrook clan lives on, and the morbid history of this cursed family unfolds across seven doomed lives.

Bingo 2018 Squares:

• Five Short Stories (Hard Mode)
  
• Self-Published Novel (Hard Mode)
  
• Novel Published in 2018
  
• Novel With Fewer Than 2500 Goodreads Ratings (Hard Mode)
  
• Novel Featuring a God as a Character
  
• Standalone Fantasy Novel (Hard Mode (Note that "The Curse of Sangrook Manor" was published individually, but is a part of "The Sangrook Saga")
  
  If you're in the mood for something lighter, Klondaeg the Monster Hunter is a collection of irreverent, madcap fantasy adventures. It stars a Klondaeg, an overzealous Dwarf monster hunter who wields a talking battle-axe with a split personality. They team up with various dysfunctional heroes and adventurers to solve the crisis du jour in a world ruled by capricious and incompetent gods.
  
  The series consists of three short novels and one short story, for a total of 16 adventures. They've recently been added to Kindle Unlimited.
  
  Bingo 2018 Squares:
  
  
• Novel that was reviewed on r/fantasy
  
• Five Short Stories (Hard Mode)
  
• Self Published Novel
  
• Novel with Fewer than 2500 Goodreads Ratings (Hard Mode)
  
• Novel Featuring a God as a Character
  
  I am part of The SFF Fools Guild, a day-care center for comic SFF authors. Come check us out if you're looking for a new book to make you laugh.

In an interesting twist on this issue, if you happen to be in France, Dragon Fate is free there and nowhere else right now. It could revert back at any time - everywhere else in the world has been back at the correct price for months - but anyone who can convince Amazon that they are in France is welcome to grab a free copy while it's still available.

I only have a few hours in one of the King's Quest games, but you've described Steve Thomas's Klondaeg the Monster Hunter which I enjoyed very much. Good clean fast-paced fun with a wide variety of locations, threats and artifacts of power.

I've only read the first:
https://www.amazon.com/Klondaeg-Monster-Hunter-Steve-Thomas-ebook/dp/B0084PAWYW

But he has an omnibus edition that's next on my list:
https://www.amazon.com/Klondaeg-Omnibus-Steve-Thomas-ebook/dp/B00V9L1HL0

Thanks for those, The Narrows looks really interesting. I actually have read Quest of the Five Clans before, I just forgot to add it. I had no idea what it was going into it so I was a little thrown by the style, but I thought it was still pretty good. I'm actually reading Klondaeg right now as well, and I've been meaning to read some of Hayes' books for a while. I've had Where Loyalties Lie on my TBR list forever and keep forgetting to read it. And I didn't list the second Bulletproof Witch since I was only putting the first book of series on the list.

I've not lurked on this thread for a while so here goes.

What if the faerie tales were true? Not all of them, but what if a kernel of truth lurked in the middle of the myths and fables. What if instead of a tale for children they were meant to be a warning? My trilogy The Riven Wyrde Saga begins with Fae - The Wild Hunt It received 5 stars from Readers' Favorite, reached the semi-finals with the Kindle Book Review Awards, and came second in the self/independently published category of the Stabby's so it can't be too bad can it? Plus it's less than three bucks for book one... give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Hi everyone!

I recently self-published an epic fantasy story on Kindle called THE CHILD OF SILENCE. Here's the blurb I spent way too long agonising over:

You've never met a hero like this before.


Born severely disabled, Aiata dal'Pelferta has spent her life despised by her own people simply for who she is. Worse still, she is the youngest daughter of the Empress, making her an Imperial embarrassment. Unable to talk, move or let anyone know she is a thinking, feeling person, she spends her days observing - and learning - from those around her.


Everything changes when she finally discovers a way to communicate and is plunged into the dangers of the Imperial court. With the magic of Songthrust, Aiata’s people can force others to their will, however they are ill-prepared for a popular revolt within their own borders – a revolt that Aiata is dragged into. Abused by her family and surrounded by danger, Aiata will learn that her intellect – not just her magic – is her greatest asset, as she fights to save her home from the ravages of civil war.


Yet while all eyes are on the war at home, a far greater threat looms in the dark of the night sky.

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I wanted it to be a fantasy story with a bit of a difference, hence the main character having profound physical disabilities, which was inspired by my day job as a special school teacher.

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Here's the Amazon link if you'd like to take a gander. It's $1.50 or free on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0816Q9TDB/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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The wonderful cover art was done by an artist I found right here on Reddit, who goes by Subasie. You can find his portfolio on Instagram.

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Also, if you run book blog and you'd like to do a review, I'd be more than happy to send you a copy for free. Just DM me and I'm sure we can work something out :)

Hey man, I'm also from Australia and I just searched up "John Bierce" on the Kindle app and it showed up. For free! I tried finding a link on Amazon for you but I couldn't. Weird. If you have the kindle app, you can download it from there. Or download the app :p Good luck!

EDIT: I tried some more. Try this link?

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Labyrinth-Mage-Errant-Book-ebook/dp/B07J675X2C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539174516&sr=1-1&keywords=john+bierce&dpID=51I9IvuaRFL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Well, the sequel to Sufficiently Advanced Magic released a couple days ago, so there's that.
On the Shoulders of Titans

Other than that, I can also recommend Mother of Learning, which has a similar feel. Past that, maybe check out some LitRPGs? My personal favorites are:

Everybody Loves Large Chests (occasionally NSFW, though hilarious)

Worth the Candle

The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound

Happy birthday and thanks for the gift!!

Here's the link for the dutch people out there: https://www.amazon.nl/Fae-Wild-Riven-Wyrde-English-ebook/dp/B00IWOW2Y8?keywords=fae+wild+hunt&qid=1522566829&sr=8-4&ref=sr_1_4

Based on the current pacing of the story I would say somewhere around 15 books for the current series. Than the story should transition to the next level but that will be a separate series in the future.

I dont recommend waiting for it to be complete. These books are amazing and Will has been very consistent releasing 2 books / year

There is a promo that ends today. First three books are free as a box set

Into The Labyrinth is a group of Very Special Teens from Wizard School That Has A Labyrinth Under It. The whole setup promises plenty of weird and interesting magic. The latter half of the book takes places in the aforementioned labyrinth, where it basically turns into an old-school dungeon crawler. It's interesting and well-written, the world is vivid and alive, the twists are nice but it doesn't lean on them no one is The Supreme Magus.

The Chronicles of Fid series by David Reiss fits. It is a superhero genre series following a powerful supervillain who has massive trauma in his past as he gradually works through a redemption arc. I thought it handled mixing the action you might expect from a superhero novel with the deeper introspection into his past and motives fairly well. The main character is definitely an emotionally broken man who had a long period of being more or less evil, but is starting to work towards doing good. The series as a whole follows his redemption arc. The first book would work well as a stand alone, but books 2 and 3 are more deeply interlinked.

The author /u/dhreiss is active and has done a couple small AMAs as well.