Fantasy recommendations please

I'm at a loss to find a good series to read. I see some recommendations in this group and I was hoping to tailor my request more specifically to my own interests and see if anyone has some ideas out there.

here are the things I really enjoy in a fantasy series, not necessarily all in the same story, of course:

1. Younger character coming into his or her power
2. large epic plot (save the world against some ancient evil)
3. strong female characters are really interesting to me
4. yes, despite being a male, I really enjoy the romantic aspect; young love, etc. It shouldn't the only theme or the dominant one even but it really sweetens the deal for me.
5. Magic. Been seeing a solid number of fantasy books which actually seem to avoid magic, but I like it.

Here are some things I've enjoyed in the past that might help narrow things down a bit:

1. George RR Martin series
2. Robert Jordan
3. Lord of the Rings (though on recent rereads I've found it less captivating than when I was younger)
4. Kushiel's dart series
5. Charles De Lint -- anything he's written, though this is more contemporary fantasy
6. Thomas Covenant stuff--more the first trilogy than anything else. Found it getting tiresome into the second and third trilogies.

I also put a lot of value in quality of writing, characterization and breadth/scope of the setting.

thanks in advance for any ideas!

Right off the top of my head:

1. J. V. Jones' Book of Words trilogy starting with The Baker's Boy.

2. The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy starting with The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams.

3. The War of Lights and Shadows series by Janny Wurts starting with Curse of the Mistwraith.

4. Brandon Sanderson's trilogy starting with Mistborn.

I've just started reading the Fionovar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. It's a trilogy and it's got everything you requested in a plot line.

I'm really into the Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch right now. Not really an "epic" story, and no strong female characters (so I probably shouldn't even be recommending it), but Scott Lynch's writing is awesome and I love the world he's created. So I'll just throw that out there as well.

The touchstone didn't work for "Fionavar Tapestry", so the books are called The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Darkest Road. That should do it.

I'll second the Tad Williams series and the Fionavar Tapestry, although any Guy Gavriel Kay book is excellent.

If you like coming of age and don't mind juvenile series (which include some of my favorites), I'd recommend

Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles 5 books
Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series 5 books
Several interlocking series by Tamora Pierce for strong woman characters.

Diana Wynne Jones's books straddle the line between YA and adult, with many to choose from, but my current favorite is Dark Lord of Derkholm, with magic and save the world features.

For so-called adult fantasy

Can't go wrong with Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, or Patricia Wrede. McKillip's series, The Riddlemaster of Hed, is a classic. McKinley's Damar books have strong female leads (The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, as do Wrede's Lyra series and all but one of her Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

Steven Brust's Jhereg series is unconventional and entertaining. Start with Jhereg, Taltos, and Yendi.

Elizabeth Moon's Paksennarion series is a classic, and a new book is on its way to the publisher, for a strong female lead in classic fantasy. And don't miss P. C. Hodgell's series starting with Godstalk, truly original and one of my favorite books.

Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion and Paladin of Souls are absolutely top-rate and look to be right up your alley in terms of themes. The third book, The Hallowed Hunt, is related but not a direct sequel.

Nina Kiriki Hoffman also writes superb fantasy set in the present. Try her The Thread that Binds the Bones series or her Red Heart of Memories series.

Barbara Hambly also writes quality fantasy series.

There are many more, but let's not overwhelm you. If you try some of these and like them, get back to me for more, but these are most of my favorites.

ETA touchstones are all screwy. ETA--well, no, they aren't. They all fixed themselves when I hit submit.

You might also like the Night angels trilogy by Brent Weeks.

The way of shadows, Shadows'edge, and Beyond the shadows. It has the comic of age theme, and plenty of strong female characters. (I especially loved Momma K.)

For coming of age world-saving fantasy, David Eddings is pretty good. Try the Belgariad series, first book Pawn of Prophecy.

Also perhaps Terry Brooks. Sword of Shannara is the first, but I think his work gets better the deeper into his world he gets.

Robin Hobb is excellent. Try Assassin's Apprentice and the sequels.

And also, you mentioned George RR Martin and Robert Jordan, but have you read anything by the other Big Name of current epic fantasy, Terry Goodkind? If not, try Wizard's First Rule.

You might also want to consider Inda by Sherwood Smith, its the first in a series.
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher, also the first in an ongoing series.
And while I'd recommend anything by Martha Wells you might particularly appreciate The Wizard Hunters first the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy. It's got one of my absolute favorite female main characters.

They might be a little light and fluffy for you, but I recommend Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series starting with Arrows of the Queen or Magic's Pawn. They hit all of the points you like.

Something a bit darker would be the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop starting with Daughter of the Blood.

Many ofht eabove are all superb, but not mentioned

C J Cherryh's Fortress series starting with Fortress in the eye of time it's got great youth coming into their powers and a very interesting take on magic.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone :)

I've always wondered about Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. So I've started with some Bujold and so far I'm really enjoying it. I've got the Sharing Knife about 80% finished and am really happy.

Keep the suggestions coming :) I've got a lot of material to check out already, but I read voraciously fast so I'm sure I'll run out sooner or later.

> 3

I heartily and MOST enthusiastically second the Gentlemen Bastards suggestion, although I'd take exception to the 'no strong female characters' label. Lynch has probably the most strong females per capita of any book I've read lately - the just are not the primary protagonists (although there are two that take sizeable roles in the second book). In fact, I find his world and the gender roles in it fascinating.

Couldn't put the first book down. Best I've read in ages.

I also love Bujold - if you enjoy sci fi at all, I'd recommend her Vorkosigan series as well.

I'm new here but wonder if you might take a look at Billabongo(The Land of Billabongo). It's fantasy with real things included.

Author alert! JuanR is the author of the book he cited. While pushing your own book is not strictly forbidden, doing so without disclosing your self-interest is in extremely bad taste and has been known to result in a flag.

If you want to invest time into a whole world... Dragonlance. Good vs evil, magic, strong male and female characters, .... it's there. Some examples:

The Soulforge and Brothers In Arms by Margaret Weis
Dark Heart by Tina Daniell
Steel and Stone by Ellen Porath
Dragons Of Autumn Twilight, Dragons Of Winter Night, Dragons Of Spring Dawning
Time of the twins, War of the Twins, Test Of the Twins

And so many more: http://www.dlnexus.com/products/list.aspx

A Wizard of Earthsea, The Quest for the Last Kimeiji and His Dark Materials

This is a truly awesome amount of suggestions. Now at least I know where to start looking :)

I'm really enjoying the Sharing Knife series...I'm midway through book 3. Can anyone recommend any other Bujold fantasy titles? Eventually I'll tackle her scifi offerings but I'm currently on a fantasy kick.

I love you all :)

Sure. Lost in the middle of my message #5 are the names of Bujold's other Fantasy series. Start with The Curse of Chalion and then go on to Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt. That is all there is except for a very early book that is more a YA called The Spirit Ring. Bujold's SF is not hard SF but more character-driven like her fantasies. Start with The Warrior's Apprentice to get a taste. Then you can back up two books to get Miles' parents' story or just head straight on to get Miles' adventures and eventual maturity--it's a great ride! And it's not so far off from her fantasy as you might think.

>12 Aerrin99:: I retract my statement about no strong female characters in "The Gentlemen Bastards" series. Red Seas Under Red Skies was chock-full of wonderful female characters!! Can't wait for the third installment (stop playing World of Warcraft, Scott Lynch!)

Also Elizabeth Moon's Packsenarrion series.
strong female, Coming of age, magic, series, saving all against an encroaching evil (as the series progresses this is more apparent).

Doesn't have the romance aspect but i still recommend reading the trilogy. First one is Sheepfarmer's Daughter.

edited to add the strong female

> 19

WoW? Is THAT why I have to wait for another installment? Let's cut his 'net connection! ;)

>21 Aerrin99:

It's just an internet rumor, but I think it's funny (and quite possibly true). Too many friends of mine have been lost to the World of Warcraft.

There are so many good series recommended already, but here a a few more series. Some of these will only be available through used bookstores.

Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglas
Crystal Gryphon series by Andre Norton and A.C. Crispin (and, of course The Witchworld series by Andre Norton http://www.librarything.com/series/Witch%20World%20-%20publication%20order )
The Gandalara Cycle by Randall Garrett
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
Equal Rites and Mort by Terry Pratchett Both are part of the Discworld series, but only tangentially related to each other.
Dragon's Pawn and sequels by Carol Dennis
Stormwarden and sequels by Janny Wurts
Her Majesty's Wizard by Christopher Stasheff. This is the start of A Wizard in Rhyme series
Susan Dexter has some good series: Winter King's War and Warhorse of Esdragon
Some early Piers Anthony books though not always the whole series: A Spell for Chameleon, On a Pale Horse
Hawk and Fisher series by Simon R. Green
Song of Sorcery by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

I have really enjoyed this thread ambivalence...we have some similar interests in fantasy books. One author I would recommend that I really like is Sharon Shinn. Particularly her series starting with Mystic and Rider. The characters aren't so young but they are learning about how magic works in the world throughout the series. Her stand alone novel Summers at Castle Auburn is more a coming of age story. Thanks for all the great recommendations everyone.

I've got one for you. The first book in a series just came out, sounds like you'd love it.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field...

I have a number of recommendations:

1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss meets all your requirements.

2. The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts is also excellant.

3. If your into fantasy with romance, I'd recommend the Symphony of Ages series by Elizabeth Haydon, which starts with Rhapsody.

Warning. timtimloy just joined today and has no books in the system. Given the nature of his "recommendation", it is quite possibly a stealth author invasion. Hopefully, I am wrong, but I don't know why otherwise he'd give an Amazon link for a recommendation.

I enjoyed Melanie Rawn series but then again its been several years since I've read them but I do remember I had read the series twice ... seemed like there was a dry spell for decent writers so I reread them .. enjoyed them the second time but not as much as the first.

I haven't added to my books as I am new to this forum but it seems I'll read anything from the back of a cereal box to books found in random places.

You should realllllllllly read Celandine and The Various by Steve Augarde...it's a series and WinterTree comes out soon....these books are so fantastic and I fell in love as soon as I saw the covers and the reading was just as spectacular!!

What about...

Wraeththu by Storm Constantine -fantasy that takes the themes of the 80's London club scene to the extreme. My favorite of all fantasy series.

The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop - especially if you enjoyed Jacqueline Carey's stuff.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover stuff? Yes, it's more scifi than fantasy, and yeah, she began the series in the 60's, so some of it is a bit dated but the world-building is top notch. Most of the series is published in omnibuses. My favorites are The Ages of Chaos, Heritage and Exile, & The Saga of the Renunciates.

I think you would like The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass

The Riftwar (and successive series) by Feist starting with Magician is something I can always go back to and fits most of the OP's requirements.

Couple of other people to add:

Joan D. Vinge - 2 series: Cat (Psion, Catspaw, & Dreamfall) & the Tiamat books - The Snow Queen, World's End & The Summer Queen

I love & have re-read multiple times the Sun Sword Cycle by Michelle West beginning with The Broken Crown.

1: I took a quick scan thru your posted library, and have a couple of classic suggestions.

the bloody crown of conan - 3 great stories here, and great adventure.

The Elric Saga - I've seen some newer editions recently.

In both cases, if you enjoy the stories, there are a lot more of each out there as well.

I think you'll find The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks is exactly the type of series you would enjoy. I would also agree with the recommendation for my favourite author, Robin Hobb.

>24 janemarieprice:

I second Sharon Shinn's The Twelve Houses series, starting with Mystic and Rider - the newest one just came out. Very strong female characters with a large epic plot.

A little more on the Sci-fi side, but still fantasy in my book, is her Samaria series, starting with Archangel. Great author all around.

Ambivalance: I am trying to write the books you want to read. We should get together and go bowling. (Breakfast Club reference!)

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but you might possibly want to look into Anne Bishop's Dark Jewels Trilogy (which now consists of seven books :P). The first is Daughter of the Blood. It definitely has most of what you're looking for (strong female characters - good and evil, epic plot to save the world, romance, and lots of magic). It's a bit lacking on younger characters coming into their power though. I mean, the "heroine" is Jaenelle and she is young coming into her power, but the book focuses on so many characters that you don't follow her a lot, you're just around her through other characters (if that makes sense). It's still good, though, and I highly recommend it. Very strong females. The entire concept is built basically on women being in control and some abusing their power. Jaenelle is there to set things right...

I would absolutely second or third Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. I think it has everything you're looking for, and 5 out of 6 of the books are out now, with the 6th coming in November. Start with Furies of Calderon.

I also love his other series, starring Harry Dresden - start with Storm Front for that one!