POPULAR ADULT FANTASY BOOKS | A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW

[@jerimiahjohnson4272]

I respect how you treat books you don't necessarily enjoy as much as others do, still giving them their due and looking at it objectively.

[@ebnovels]

Thank you! Haha, people tell me sometimes I need to be polarizing and harsher if I want to “stay relevant.” I appreciate you saying otherwise 😊

[@XxVicistxX]

@@ebnovels Don't listen to them, I like the way you just lay out the information objectively and just add a few subtle subjective remarks, your opinions and personality still show through without dominating the content of the video. Feel free to make specific "hot-take" videos for that if you want to because I could see that being fun, but for videos like this the format works perfectly! :)

[@mr.teekanee9750]

Exactly, that's a very good thing.

[@ikochomi3070]

Wow

[@priscillareads]

Jerimiah Johnson The perfect booktuber!! 😊

[@gregmiller4387]

I read all of Wheel of Time, but when I started years ago I was looking for a book that stood alone and the librarian at the time said she thought this was a stand alone book so I read it only to discover there were going to be many more so it gave something for the librarian and me to laugh about over the years as each new book came out.I liked the Wheel of Time I must have I read them all and I liked the librarian.

[@mosespray4510]

This is my first time listening to you and I'm very impressed. You're well informed and articulate, and there isn't a trace of arrogance in you or your content. In fact, you clearly go out of your way to allow for different points of view. I was also delighted by the completeness of the attached bibliography. I can't wait to listen to your other videos!

[@ebnovels]

Well thank you very much! I really appreciate that 😄

[@AmberMarrrie]

I’m still shook from the 3rd Mistborn book. It’s been 12 months.

[@johnjennings8015]

Brandon Sanderson is a writing machine...

[@BertGrink]

I had never heard about him before, but judging by the wikipedia article, it looks as if he could give Raymond E. Feist (33 novels so far) a fierce run for the money.

[@ColombianThunder]

@@wooshbait36 i think you were hyped up about his writing too much. He had a very direct prose

[@ColombianThunder]

@@wooshbait36 disagree

[@adnansaleem6167]

No wonder his books lack the emotional depth of a human.

[@darkmax4872]

@@adnansaleem6167..? Have you really read the way of kings?

[@Hadrian1616]

This video is over 25 minutes long. I can tell you worked very hard on this. You always produce such great content for us. I appreciate your channel so very much. Thank you.

[@bramvandenheuvel4049]

Gentleman Bastards! I can forgive not including A Song of Ice and Fire (coz everybody and their mother are talking about it), but not including Scott Lynch' masterpiece is a missed opportunity.

[@bramvandenheuvel4049]

Still liked the video though, and agree (as far as I can) with the other titles in your list :)

[@ebnovels]

Haha, I couldn’t include everything! 😆

[@bramvandenheuvel4049]

@@ebnovels Why not? I'd watch a 14 hour video about fantasy books :P

[@Morfeusm]

@@ebnovels So we can say you got Lynch-ed by the fans! :D

[@antonioiglesias2031]

@@bramvandenheuvel4049 Cause there's gotta be a part 2, and maybe part 3 LOL. So we can have a chance to like another video.

[@harmonyinclarity]

I'm glad you talked about the Stormlight Archive. So fantastic.

[@BulletsAndBloomers]

Stormlight archive kept me sane in my sophomore year of high school. That series is 10/10

[@TheCokee47]

just finished Oathbringer (3rd book) and I already can't wait for the next one. Amazing Series.

[@juliakra01]

Same, Stormlight gives me life

[@anthonysalvatore9318]

this is a good list but incomplete with out the dresden files

[@SAMPAIDAWG]

@@anthonysalvatore9318 yeah, I finished all the dresden books and Im here trying to find something else to keep me busy 😂

[@TheRick8866]

Storm light, in particular,Way of Kings, is a great read. The Malazan will stay with you, the author is an anthropologist and he uses that in his books. It stays with you more than most fantasy books.

[@rederik99]

It's interesting that she said you could skip the first book. That might work for some people. If anyone out there is thinking about giving Malazan a try, book 2 & 3 are the ones that really hook you in. I read the second book about 3 years ago, and I still think about it regularly.

[@KevBoughen]

Malazan is my favourite, I think it's probably the best fleshed out world in that it's really well thought out but there isn't a character who has complete understanding of what's happening.

[@JoanTheBee]

Yes, the Witcher in polish is a masterpiece. Words used, sentences build, all the details are stunning. I was amazed while reading it the first time. I thought the books are famous because the story is good but the writing itself is an art, something to enjoy. It's like looking at an amazing painting or sculpture and see the talent behind the artist. What is also great (and most probably lost in translations) is how he treats the reader. He expect one to know what he means withoult explaining it fully and it's such a great feeling that the reader is not treated like a clueless child.

[@carolevonaarberg472]

I don't speak Polish. The translation is awkward. There are errors that a good editor would have picked up. I feel the translation is too respectful to the Polish and too tight. A liberal translation might have improved the readability. I have read one of the short stories in German, a long time ago, admittedly but I don't recall having to double think a sentence.

[@Deni-mt9bj]

I’m Czech and I was suprised how easy is Witcher to read. The short stories are still the best book with Geralt, they are the most genius.

[@selenophile410]

JoanTheBee is there any way to like , you know , uh read a better translation , a different edition

[@JoanTheBee]

@@selenophile410 The only thing I can think of are fan made translations. I didn't look into it, just heard they exist. Probably only fragments though.

[@Selenite11]

If the original mastery is lost in translation then the translator did not do a good job. Simple as that, a shitty translator. Those of us who are non-native english speakers are painfully aware of what a gem a good translation is.

[@RARDingo]

Very informative, thank you. The "must read" adult fantasy series of all time for me would have to be the "Magician" series by Raymond E Feist. His writing style is unique & his ability to put you in the picture with a relatively few words is brilliant. He can do in a paragraph what David Eddings or Robin Hobb take a page and a half to do. Although character driven, the plot is rich & complex. It takes several main character story-lines and blends them seamlessly into the overall picture. I read the first book "Magician" in 3 days , then devoured the 2nd & 3rd books in a single 22 hour sitting. (they were that good!).

[@davecorbett0507]

Feist got me into fantasy in the first place!

[@adamwells715]

Couldn't agree more. That was a killer series. After "A Battle at Sethanon" he kinda fell off (IMHO).

[@marajango]

Great video! Sorry for my bad English but I would also like to recommend the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. While most people probably think of violence and sex when it comes to 'adult' media, Pratchett pulled it off create a very believable magical world through the use of humor. A world which manages to beautifully parody many different cultural aspects of our modern western societies while still maintaining a very natural and cohesive feel to this fantasy setting that also manages to show some surprising dark sides from time to time. There are a ton of books centered around many different characters and events within that world that are somewhat losely chronologically connected with each other but basically you can just pick up any of these books and give it a read to find out if this kind of fantasy is something for you. His books have had me giggle at first, only to be shocked and thrilled within the turn of a page far too many times to not mention them here.

[@jhart1127]

Were you being sarcastic when you said to excuse your English?? 😂👍

[@aliciamae14]

Agree 100%, discworld belongs on this list.

[@clairemeehan4141]

I would agree that Robin Hobb's story can appear to be a slower pace, but over the course of the books this draws you in to their world so effectively - hence the trauma you experience as a reader. Just amazing. However I also enjoy the faster paced and more punchy First Law series, Lightbringer and Mistborn. Great job with the reviews.

[@vladvanessa]

when you mentioned the farseer trilogy i started sobbing, thats how much i loved all of the realm of the elderlings books. the emotional connectiones between the characters (cough cough nighteyes) is a masterpiece. i really want to reread it but i know a part of the book will tear me apart again, and i cant go through that again.

[@kevinfavaron4541]

I'm really really impressed by the degree of respect and objective thought you put into all of the works, and the emphasis you put on including contrasting opinions about each work. This felt respectful towards both authors and audiences while maintaining its honesty. Instant subscribe.

[@Floar]

Do not start with Name of the Wind until the last book is out...

[@Younguns0375]

Thats never going to happen

[@CallmeJochem]

Why not? I understand that it might be a long wait for the 3rd book, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. I knew that going in and still read it. I have 0 regrets about it. It was amazing and I will definitely reread many more times.

[@Younguns0375]

@@CallmeJochem dude its been 9 years since the last book

[@Floar]

@@CallmeJochem Was more commenting her recommending the series for new to the genre than the quality of the series. They were great but not a great way to start yourself in fantasy when you are immediately greeted with 2+ years of waiting.

[@TheSporkyDonkey]

Yeah, I was surprised that was suggested as a starting book as there is literally no end in sight. Rothfuss has been sidetracked by so many other things that I don't think it is remotely possible for that series to be finished or have a satisfying ending. It is way to large to be finished in one book, unless he does a hack job, and if it has to be more than one book, he'll more likely pass away before finishing the follow up book.

[@colin1818]

"Sexism in reverse" That's just called "sexism." Things like "reverse racism" are a misnomer. They simply are what they are.

[@ThePreciseClimber]

Misogyny and misandry.

[@filipponiobardelli9288]

Amen

[@radeknaprstek3886]

When you are reading Wheel of time but you also wanna read Name of the wind, Dark tower, Gentleman bastards, First law, Lightbringer and more but your time is limited.

[@severjanlici2032]

Yep! I know what you mean bro!

[@gurentgc3546]

I know that feel, bruh.

[@Quincyslayer]

We have all been there. I say take a break from Wheel of Time and enjoy some of these other more modern works The Name of the Wind is super awesome and less of a commitment than Wheel of Time.

[@StoneyBlazer420]

I'm almost done with book 10. Lend me your strength.

[@Quincyslayer]

@@StoneyBlazer420 The darkest hour comes right before dawn. Godspeed, good fellow.

[@MichaelRachal]

1st Law definitely becomes plots within plots throughout the series. Just finished the series and now it's one of my favorites. Agreed that the first book is all character development but it pays off in spades. Keep up the good work!

[@ebnovels]

Thanks :D I can’t wait to get back to those characters 😊

[@kahlbutomacfarland]

Elliot Brooks and please don’t skip the standalone novels (or even Sharp Ends, the collection of short stories). They are probably the best of the series.

[@clairemeehan4141]

I agree - Abercrombie's story crafting weaves it together into a complex pattern over the course of the books (and is ongoing) which brings the world to life for me.

[@BrandonGuimond]

@@kahlbutomacfarland "Best Served Cold" has one of the best female protagonists I've read in adult fantasy to date.

[@marc8919]

Yes these are really enthralling, I just finished the 6th book yesterday and plan to start Sharp Ends soon.

[@PasOdMater]

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is such a good series. It's a shame that most people don't have the will to go through the first few books without deciding on it.

[@rjwade00]

Glad you covered the Farseer books. They are perhaps my personal favorite and your analysis is fair and accurate. Thanks for the introduction to the other series of books as well.

[@ebnovels]

You’re welcome! Thanks for the nice comment 😊

[@Annkelia]

@@ebnovels I frankly MUCh prefer the Liveship Traders Trilogy to the Farseer ones. Much different, also QUITE different from the trope-ical fantasy on this list at least in terms of the setting...

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

@@Annkelia I like both. But maybe I'm just a glutton for anything an author puts out. I think I just get into an author and read whatever they do. Like, I loved Mary Gentle's Ash books so I read Illario, which is the type of thing I would never read and I'm so glad I did. Great book.

[@sulibreaks]

Guys, I have started "wheel of time" 3 times now. the first boook drags soooo much! Should i persist?? I love LOTR which i read when i was 12, and i dont remember it feeling so slow.

[@aleksandarkuburic6379]

lemme tell you. best world spectacle you can get, with so many characters and stories. It has it's writing style flaws, but i love the story. Bigger and better than LOTR.

[@sharathkumar8422]

It's ok to skip a book or series. Read something else

[@iansberg850]

Skip to book 4? Or something...

[@brontelee6726]

I didn't like the series at all. I felt like I could skip books and still not miss a thing. The female characters started to grate on my nerves and they all seemed to merge into each other at one point.

[@makaylahnkanu304]

Robert Jordan was known for his detail get past the first book to the second best choice you ever made trust me also you could skim over the first book as most of it is detail

[@Gabi-cv6sy]

one thing that I found really interesting is the thing you said about the translation of "the witcher" and how it can be different from what the reader is used to. as someone who doesn't have english as first language nor is from an english speaker country, I'm used to reading mostly translated books and I love to see the differences between writing from different countries and how translators constructs the narratives to make sense without losing the original flow and flavor of the author. I think it really opens one's mind and can be a really positive experience.

[@bambi42]

There is actually 9 books of the Fitz story by Robin Hobb. Her magic of the books is the emotional aspect. I have read them all several times (except the latest one only one time) and every time I cry my eyes out on certain parts of the books, even though I know what will happen. Robin Hobb is amazing writer when it comes to emotions.

[@jeremyboulton5110]

i look at it like Raymond e Feist world... there are 8 books( i have read anyway) outside the nine Fitz/Fool series as well that really flesh the story of the world... there is a plot point woven through all of them deep down.

[@leviathn1239]

I absolutely love the The First Law trilogy. The characters are fun and feel real and Sand dan Glokta pov's are absolute treat to read.

[@liamo7759]

Totally agree a great read fantastic characters

[@zorba-d-geek]

The fact that the characters were so well done completely made me forget about the overall arch of the story at the beginning and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see more of each. Then the story developed out of nowhere for me and it was a good surprise. It felt for parts of it that I could predict the ending and general story but boy was I wrong. 😂 I have read all the books twice now and am starting the new series with the children of some of the characters from the main trilogy.

[@dildeepaksinghladhar5213]

Body floating by the docks 😅

[@dildeepaksinghladhar5213]

Did you find anything even remotely similar to all of joe Abercrombies books. They left a hole in my heart which i am unable to fill with any book i tried so many different books but nothing come close to

[@adnanchowdhury8464]

I have been reading Malazan for a year now an I am on 8th book. It is a huge commitment and sometimes the story seems disconnected but as it goes on everything starts to connect. I like this series a lot. As it explains a lot of things and also leaves a lot to imagination.

[@likeasonntagmorgen]

regarding Robin Hobb, i think her writing is incredible. while her books, perhaps, have less immediacy about them, the way Hobb crafts her world and characters is subtle. you learn about the people in her books as if you were right there observing them. and more than most fantasy i've read, i feel like they are people i know and care about. They are ever evolving, changed by their experiences. even if the plot isn't barrelling forward, the time you spend with these characters is worthwhile. which is not to say that there is no action, just that when there isn't, Hobb is capable of crafting scenes which are not just flowery descriptions of a place which drag on to the distant horizon. with all that being said, Hobb's first two books in the trilogy are pacier than the last (this becomes a trait for her subsequent trilogies, as well). and i find her endings suffer from being a little anti-climactic, despite large world changing events occurring. if you finish The Farseer Trilogy and are keen to return to the Realm of the Elderlings, you'll probably want to jump straight back in with Fitz et al. but you'll notice that there is a trilogy that stands in your way. i would recommend that you don't skip it in your haste to return to old friends. there are significant lore reveals which are worth experiencing inside of the narrative, not to mention a new host of characters which will become just as dear as Fitz and his friends. also, it's worth knowing that when you do return to Fitz, some time will have passed and he will not be unchanged. so, if anything, a jaunt south of the six duchies might allow for a less jarring transition!

[@NipsnapsGamer]

Fitz books are written in-person, so the experience is of different sort than the more common almost all-knowing reader. Brilliant books.

[@raindrops21_9]

Robin Hobb is a magician when it comes to creating characters. In my opinion she is unsurpassed. I always prefer character driven stories and her Farseer, Tawny Man and Mad Ship novels are perfect examples of this. Her characters are so meticulously crafted that you can well imagine them living their lives even after you've read the final page, that's how real and believable they are. Fitz, The Fool, Nighteyes and Burrich are my favourite characters in all of literature.

[@positivitize]

I was surprised to not see Tad Williams' trilogy Sorrow, Memory, and Thorn make the list, as Tad is one of the stronger Adult Fantasy writers out there right now. I *highly* recommend him if you've not had a chance to read his stuff. His world-building is wonderful and realistic?/cohesive, and his characters are fantastic. He's also currently in the process of writing a new trilogy that takes place in the same world of SM&T about 60ish years later, and that's absolutely wonderful too. "This is a true story, if words can be true. If not, then these are only words." -- The Heart of What was Lost, preface

[@johnsknows3135]

This is why I search fantasy books review every few months. Hands down the best comprehensive list. I very much appreciate your summary of key elements and talking points

[@Ivielynn123]

Thank you for an extremely thorough overview of all these stories. 😁😁

[@ebnovels]

You’re very welcome 😄

[@nerudaad]

It's been a couple of decades since I read Robin Hobb's Farseer series, but I still remember how it felt when I finished it. I highly recommend it.

[@ibeattetris]

I've read seven of these and yet somehow I have missed ever hearing about Shades of Magic. I will have to check it out. I absolutely love the First Law Trilogy, and your description of the first book is spot on. I can't remember what happened, but I remember not wanting it to stop.

[@Alasterius41]

Shades of Magic is definitely worth it. I have read and most of the series mentioned (all cept for Stormlight Archives, Brent weeks and Witcher) and I would rate high (within top 3) amongst those I’ve read on this list...

[@aliciasorenson3807]

I've enjoyed following you the last month or so. Great content, thanks! You have got to finish the Wheel of Time! It is so incredible!!

[@ebnovels]

Haha, I don’t actually like WoT 😅 I’m glad you do though! And you’re welcome-thank YOU for the nice comment 💗

[@AhsimNreiziev]

+[Elliot Brooks] Normally I'd recommend you stay on WoT, but if none of the first 4 books were the type of book that would hook you into reading the rest of the series, then I think it is safe to say it's not the series for you. Any less than that, I'd have some doubts left, as I personally only really got into it after reading _The Shadow Rising_ , and it has since become my favourite Fantasy series of all time. This is rare, but not unheard of, so I always recommend people to read up to and including at least TSR. But you've done so, which is as good an indication as you're ever going to get.

[@TheCokee47]

From all 10 of these series mentioned, I've read every book from all the series (not just one or two books from each series) except for Robert Jordans Wheel of Time (haven't started yet, so daunting) and the Steven Erikson's Malazan series (read the first book only and never picked up anymore because of it). Having said that, I will probably look back into the Malazan series as the description in this overview was spot on for me and the exact reasons why I didn't continue with the series. The whole Patrick Rothfuss fiasco is so incredibly frustrating that I'm not even sure if I'm going to bother reading the final book. At the very least I won't be buying it, maybe I'll borrow it and read it, but I just can't justify supporting him any longer. All in all, my point is that this video is fantastic and really covers these titles very well. Earned a sub no doubt!

[@tutdunsthemouse]

what did patrick rothfuss do?

[@derrickmarais]

If you enjoyed Farseer PLEASE DO NOT SKIP LIVESHIP TRADERS and go directly to Tawney man(the second Fitz series). Having the connections between these seemingly unrelated series reveal themselves is is amazing.

[@Bellathor]

The Witcher short stories are fantastic, I loved them a lot. One of them in particular hit me so hard I had to stop reading for the night. The books are different as you've mentioned - since they're not short stories, but I enjoyed them a lot too. I first played Witcher 1 and Witcher 2, then decided I'd read everything before going into the Witcher 3. I really like setting, politics etc.

[@AWildBard]

me too, I can't get enough weirdly, although I love reading, I only have the audio books, and I've gone through them at least 5 times. after listening to all the books, I take a break for a few months and start again. I've been listening to the story for 5-10 years

[@FeliPeltier]

I’ll say this for the Farseer Trilogy: I read all 3 books and thought “meh.” A year later I read Liveship Traders and was like “This is actually pretty good” and as soon as I picked up the first Tawny Man book I couldn’t read the rest of the Realm of the Elderling books fast enough. She writes 16 books and I would say the first big payoff doesn’t start until the middle of the series but it is totally worth it!

[@matthiasmuller7273]

Funny I felt just the other way round. I could really relate to Fitz and devoured his story but I have troubles connecting with the later books.

[@Oyxopolis]

Late to the party, but I do agree, Malazan is the greatest thing ever. Even the first book is better than say, a Song of Ice and Fire, by miles. Personally I did think the characters showed a lot of emotion and development, even though the first book was mostly used to set up a lot of mystery to be followed up in the later books. It doesn't hold your hand and you need to be able to ..let some things go, from book to book...., but it's worth the journey. In fact, I don't think there is a better journey currently in existence.

[@MadcookieBG]

Quick question, hopefully no spoilers. Gardens of the moon captivated me with its unique style, then I red Deadhouse gates which is the best book I've ever red. I really liked most of Memories of Ice as well. However I was very displeased with book 4, and book 5 was just too philosophical and lacked the panache of the first 3. That said my question what should I expect if I continue reading and do book 6-10 resemble more the first 3 or book 4-5? Cheers!

[@Oyxopolis]

@@MadcookieBG I can only say that the books at the end are truly amazing. In my opinion. Extremely satisfying. Because of the style of writing and the embodiment of the characters, if you somehoe dislike some of the main cast, some books will fall flat, but I honestly can say that all of it comes together brilliantly. Not that all questions are answered, a sequal is coming after all.

[@MadcookieBG]

@@Oyxopolis Thanks for the response, I'll start book 6 as soon as I can. P.S. Also Happy new year, :)

[@grifur]

@@MadcookieBG they are more like 4 and 5, but still awesome and with enough action to keep you going along (Kharkanas trilogy is even more philosophical, very challenging and deep content,Is like the author started exploring that path). But, even with that in mind is really one of the greatest series ever made, so you should go on!

[@BrettWoodPiano]

I love the way you did this video. You accurately described these series and presented a great list of potential pros/cons depending on the individual.

[@LanaFeyah]

I feel like I am very far behind on the most popular and genuinely good fantasy reads. And is it just me, or is the premise of Black Prism reminiscent of ATLA? Side note, I really appreciate how balanced your presentation of these books are - regardless of whether you like or dislike a given work, you always present multiple points of view and you never let your personal opinion creep unnoticed into your reviews.

[@tedlogan4867]

What many overlook or perhaps aren't aware of regarding Jordan's WoT series, is that he draws heavily upon myths and legends from across the globe. There's elements of Judaism, Christianity, the Vedas, the Sagas, the Greeks and the Egyptians, with the names of the main set of characters being very close alterations drawn from the Arthurian legend and Nordic pantheon. I found it a brilliant re-imagining of the concept of Middle Earth, without being overly derivative, subtly including so many references to mythos, religion, legends and stories that we all know.

[@yissnakklives8866]

I got over the LoTR similarity early on, thoroughly enjoyed books 1-6 or 7, and that was the turning point. Jordan fell in love with his story and the characters and I think he lost the ending somewhere in there. This caused it to drag for an additional 4 books before he left us hanging with his untimely demise...waaaaay too much braid pulling and internal monologues that really meant nothing....

[@changchabop]

Yissnakk Lives! “Braid pulling” made me laugh. I can see how some could say reverse sexism in the world building of WOT, but Jordan seemed to write the most annoying and one dimensional female characters. Stubborn and self righteous and simpering... and presenting polygamy as a woman’s choice to share men like property... I abandoned this series halfway through path of daggers and I have no regrets.

[@tedlogan4867]

@@changchabop Interesting that you didn't read the entire series, by your own admission, and then felt compelled comment as you did. Perhaps that says far more about you Robert Jordan and WoT series, especially since I never even hinted at anything in the direction you decided to go with your observations?

[@tedlogan4867]

@@yissnakklives8866 He died before the ending was written.

[@emilychang5396]

@@tedlogan4867 my comment was more of a response to yisnak, so I agree I didnt talk about your comment at all. I read 8 of the books so I did like the series more than casually, but as previously mentioned I grew too exasperated with the women bickering constantly. Robert Jordan was a prolific writer, and WOT is a cornerstone of fantasy literature for a reason. But as a fan, I just got fed up with the stubbornness. Hope I didnt offend you with my opinion, but i suppose youtube comments are always a minefield

[@ullazitabinder2091]

I'd like to add to the list the huge universe from R. A. Salvatore, evolving around the drow Drizzt D'Urden and his adventures. There are many books, and it's really a commitment to be entering this universe, which is - in my opinion - both story- and character driven

[@model84]

it's Forgotten Realms, Salvatore is only one of the authors, but most popular. But he also wrote books in other universes

[@supersproodle]

I have just come across this Channel. I greatly appreciate your objective approach and then letting the reader decide if he or she will like an author and/or series. Your presentation style comes across as professional, I would even say academic but very approachable. It is refreshing, and in my opinion, puts your channel at the top of Fantasy review KZbinrs, and I do not give this praise lightly. I have just become a subscriber.

[@ebnovels]

Well thank you! Haha, I can definitely be “unprofessional” at times; sometimes it’s fun to be a little more casual, but I try to be as objective and informative as possible. Thank you for the kind words 😊

[@16SF]

Such an informative video. 💜 And thanks for pointing out some possible effects of reading a translated book. I always have to do it when I recommend things to my friends (because I read/play/watch everything in foreign languages to improve my skills). "Lost in translation" is very, VERY real. 😂

[@ebnovels]

I wish I read Polish just so I understood those differences 😆

[@geraldfrost4710]

Ink Heart was written in German. I saw the movie, then read the story. I could tell a few places where the translation was difficult, but the over all story was as sad in English, which was the point of that particular hero.

[@samizdatbroadcasts7654]

I appreciate the fact that you do not lecture your listeners about what is and is not sexist or offensive, but rather leave it for people to decide while still retaining and expressing your own opinion. There is far too much sanctimony surrounding such topics on social media these days. Your even handedness is a welcome change. Thank you.

[@slowerpicker]

Absolutely correct about Joe Abercrombie. You’re going to love the second book.

[@steggopotamus]

I found you through your sanderson reaction video. I really apt the structured way you talk about books. I feel like I have a good idea of where I want to start reading again. Thanks! Also, I highly recommend the stormlight archive as an audiobook. It makes it a lot easier to follow all the characters.

[@AngryZukoHere]

I enjoy reading the book itself because I think it brings the story to life more.

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

Joe Abercrombie is fantastic. My favorite fantasy author in recent years.

[@LocoDirewolf]

Lord Grimdark!

[@justinsane332]

Indeed.

[@sophiexxx455]

Yes

[@sophiexxx455]

I loved Half of King

[@verodisanto9549]

This was incredibly helpful! I wanted to dip my toes into adult fantasy after a childhood of reading kids fantasy but I didn't really know where to look. This video gave me a lot of confidence in actually trying a couple of titles. I especially appreciated how you took into account the different reading tastes. Good job!

[@deadlyk12538]

Slowly but surely making my way through these! Read all of ASOIAF, First Law, and Kingkiller Chronicles. Started Witcher and Malazan and I'm on the third book of Mistborn! Robin Hobb books and Lightbringer will be next after I go through more Brandon Sanderson. Saving Wheel of Time for the end.

[@tylerblack301]

Deadly K at least read the first few Wheel of Time books before the series premieres on Amazon.

[@TowerBooks3192]

Why in the world did I just find out about your channel just now! Thanks for this video. I love the objective overview on each series and I know my direction for expanding my fantasy library.

[@LeChevalierduLys]

“It’s not for me to tell you what to think” You have my respect, and sub :-)

[@kakashihatake454]

Damn this channel kicked off. Glad there are so many fantasy fans out there!!

[@AWildBard]

Great overview. I used to love fantasy, but it's clear to me after watching this, I barely know anything anymore. Haha Only familiar with three of the author/series. Loved one Sanderson book which was comic book inspired. The fantasy series I hated pretty early in and couldn't read it. Robert Jordan's books were enjoyable although they could be tedious. Robert Jordan was an "official" Conan the Barbarian writer in the 1980's. But I really love The Witcher series, which I don't even have in book form. I have the audiobooks, with amazing narration by Peter Kinney. I've listened to it while driving to work or going to sleep, or riding my bike or walking. I've gone through the series about 5 times in the last 5-10 years. Just finished watching the TV show. It's interesting that this video points out that the series is character-driven, because it really seems like the TV show more or less missed the essential character motivations. Good show, but the characters are pretty different even if they are basically the same people doing the same things. It's like a very different story. I have an old computer, so I can't play the computer game. I wonder how much the series is influenced more from the video game than from the books.

[@valentinavivas5298]

I'd love to read The Witcher series, it caught my attention after playing the video games. But there are a lot of books and don't even know in what order I should read them

[@AWildBard]

@@valentinavivas5298 The order is confusing, so I always google it before beginning again. haha The Last Wish The Sword of Destiny (+Season of Storms? maybe) Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows The Lady of the Lake ---- www.hachettebookgroup.com/series-list/andrzej-sapkowski-witcher-books-in-order/ witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Season_of_Storms

[@paging_snidget]

Such a great informative video. I liked how you went into the pros and cons of each series. Thanks for this.

[@mavis2354]

Maybe not for this review, but The Dredsen Files by Jim Butcher entertain me!

[@nicholaslitrento2262]

My 2nd favorite author

[@Urikanu]

This is a FANTASTIC overview, and I entirely agree with those who have said that you do your best to give each book/series it's due, wether you personally enjoyed it. There's only one of these I haven't read, and I tend to agree with you, for the most parts. The First Law is my biggest disagreement, a book I simply could not get into, and one of the only ones I have been unable to finish. It's characters were simply not gripping enough to keep my attention. But, in due fairness, I know that most others love them, so I'm probably just a bit weird. Asassin's apprentice, and by extension Hobb's entire Realms of the Elderlings series, is all about emotion. And the rollercoaster only get's taller the farther in you get. The fantasy elements also get significantly more visible as well. The 'formal' writing language is down to the fact that Assassin's Apprentice is supposed to be 'written' as the characters memoirs, and as such a book written years and years after the fact, rather than 'as it happens'. It is one of my all time favorite series. This was great work, and I hope you keep it up :)

[@germangarcia6118]

The Wheel of time spins way too much. It was a very interesting concept, but could have done with half the books.

[@AdmiralPeach]

Even though you haven’t read all the books you mentioned, this is the most useful video for me to decide on my next fantasy series. You explain what each series is about soo well and in an unbiased way. Thank you ❤

[@ebnovels]

I really appreciate you saying that, thank you! I’m glad this was helpful 💗

[@Nxrth2001]

I've read almost all of these, and nothing beats The Name of the Wind, but holy shit Rothfuss I need the next book

[@zynpkrdg]

Ooh i like this, more often than not i always see very positive reviews about all of them, so it's good to see what their flaws might be, so we can be warned going in. Thank you.

[@fredrikgranstrom6743]

Wheel Of Time A song of ice and fire. Stephen Kings the darktower.

[@tupacole]

Hopefully one day, my book is going to be on a similar list. Great video by the way! You are very articulate.

[@kevinlong1633]

The first law series is awesome. Glokta is amazing. Audiobook is best ever.

[@THE_SOVEREIGN1]

I absolutely love your style of reviewing and critiquing . It's very respectful and done with tact. You seem to balance objectivity and subjectivity very well and I respect anyone who can critique a book without ripping it to shreds. Opinions definitely are valuable in the industry, but authors go through a lot to produce their work. Whether I agree with their form of expression or not, I still believe books are an artform, not a commodity.

[@paulkearney1187]

Magician by Raymond E Feist is an amazing fantasy book and the continues in a number of great books with an outcome that concludes the original book. JimButcher also has the Furies series of fantasy books that I really enjoyed.

[@daniellamunoz8894]

Thanks to you and other booktubers I started reading most of this series and more. I am so grateful! I love fantasy and in my country we don’t get this books so I wouldn’t have known about them without booktube. Thank you!

[@cindywitte5052]

Lots of plot twists in "The Lightbringer" series. Can't wait to finish the final book.

[@clairemeehan4141]

Same here...but I feel like I'm going to have to do a re-read because there has been so much happening over the course of the books I've forgotten half the plot threads. 😂

[@thedevilrasaga1063]

Very detailed and concise reviews. I appreciate how you breakdown the plot of each book.

[@jessi4894]

Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings, of which the Farseer trilogy is the first of 16 books is the most amazing book series I have ever read in my life. In every first book of each of the trilogies and quartet in the series is like an extended set-up, and a slow burn. If Farseer was a bit slow for your taste, I highly reccomend trying the first book of The Liveship Traders, Ship of Magic, as it is much faster paced at the start. It follows the journey of a young woman named Althea, who is trying to rescue her family's Liveship, Vivacia. The ships were my favorite part of the trilogy, because after the passing of generations of their captains on their decks, they gain sentience and their figureheads become animated and move and speak with their passengers and crew. You don't need to read Farseer to read Liveships, I actually skipped it and went back to it after Liveships. They are interconnected, and in the same world, but the connections are very minor, more like Easter eggs or The Cosmere. I highly reccomend picking this book up to get a better taste of what people love so much about Robin Hobb and her writing. While people tend to get very attached to Fitz, I find him to be a bit angsty, and Althea is more of my type of protagonist, she is a highly motivated young woman who is very competent and proactive without going anywhere near "Super Speschul Chosen Wonder Girl Mary Sue" territory.

[@madysont5859]

The first book (of the completed RotE series) was brutally slow. I hate it because it prevents people for getting in to an absolutely amazing series. The liveship series was quicker moving, but if you start there you miss so many of the little things she weaves into the story, because you don't have the background knowledge.

[@anothrdude]

She says too much about feelings, the end of the trilogy was a pain. Oh I love Verity, oh I'm so helpless, oh Molly, or Verity looked in my eyes, oh Molly oh duty, it's all depressing. Don't read if you are depressed

[@queenofnoonesheart]

Have you read the River Wilde chornicles? I loved those too.

[@TheSpeartip]

Hi violet, i remember when i picked up the first Farseer book. i worked a night shift at Mcvities Piking Penguins... i saw Assassin i thought thats a manly book. after struggling with the way Robbin Hobb names the characters was a bit cring worthy Prince Chivalry, king shrewd .... but i stuck with it.it is slow but that is what i loved about it, and wow i don't mind admitting iv never cried so much at a book iv read.. (the subtle knife or the amber spy glass may be) and Yep Fitz can be frustrating some times, the impossible decisions are Dammed no matter what he does, especialy when the right thing is what causes him the most pain,

[@gustaveriksson113]

I personally love an angsty protagonist with a shitty life that gets beaten down repeatedly through the story. Hmm.. Why am I relating to those character? :S.

[@seanwhite1104]

Great video! Thanks for doing this! For weeks now I've been hunting for suggestions of what to read next and this is exactly what I've been looking for. Love your brief but informative descriptions... and your face ;) Thanks!

[@butterflycucumbers6279]

I really liked the Ember in the Ashes series, the plot was so fast, it was great, there is going to be a fourth book one day. I’ll be picking that up

[@katrinatrigari6190]

Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice definitely took me a while to get into, but once I'd got going I couldn't stop reading. Because it starts with Fitz at 5(ish) and growing up - it takes a while until he's dealing with larger stakes and the complexities of the world, which provide most of the interest for me. That said all her recent trilogies (except the Soldier Son triology) expand on the world and make a great cohesive whole. Trudi Canavan is writing some intersting series now, and you always have the Belgariad as a good gateway (though I came to those late). For more medieval style fantasy my go-to is David Gemmell and Raymond E. Feist (Magician is a must-read classic).

[@tomperez4097]

Yes Robin Hobb and Raymond E Feist are massive influences in fantasy

[@bryson2662]

Lightbringer is finished.

[@typhoonzebra]

Is it really? I mean it's the end of the "Lightbringer" series but it baits sequels hard. Might be another series of a different name in the same world at some point.

[@typhoonzebra]

@UCxfwPNvxkUPP2-rzCBPmQnQ Bro, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it came out in late October. Get on that now if you were into the first 4

[@qqq386]

And it was a let down

[@Sheija]

@@qqq386 Yeah I've been a big fan of the series since it started but the payoff was so poor. Love Brent Weeks but man it reeked of deus ex mahcina and was just generally underwhelming.

[@1993greeksoldier]

@@Sheija I enjoyed it, I liked the religious elements of the story and it was interesting to see direct intervention. Plus I love where the characters ended up.

[@inaayaarif8968]

This is the first video of yours that i have come across. I really like the way u have done this video because u dont put too much of your opinion in it. This way i know that it is reliable. I like that u have considered everyone's opinions and this isnt a rant video. Ik alot of other booktubers that let their emotions fuel the video.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I'm not actually finished watching this yet, but I wanted to comment before I forgot that this is a great video resource. As someone who has gotten more into fantasy this year, I really appreciate it!

[@ebnovels]

Thank you!!! I really appreciate you saying that :D

[@robbeckwith]

I was very impressed by your capsule reviews, because you went way beyond just stating whether or not you liked the books to what you liked, what others have said, the types of reader that might find this to their liking, etc. Well done~

[@ebnovels]

Thank you! I appreciate that 😄

[@toshomni9478]

Jacqueline Carey is my favorite adult fantasy author. I particularly love her Phèdre Trilogy, although it is adult in the truest sense and deals with some very extreme subject matter.

[@PinkyPowers]

Agreed. The Phèdre Trilogy is something very special. Though not for prudes! :)

[@559Darkstar]

This is such a good breakdown of all of these series. We run a fantasy review site (The Quill to Live) and will be referring people to this list in the future. Great work!

[@maried6456]

Read them all (except v.e. schwab), some of the twice. The ones that really stuck with me and I often find myself think about is Malazan and First Law (I mean GLOKTA, what a legend). But I really like the other series too.

[@alicegreene7059]

this was such a well thought out video. the way you thoroughly explained the style and genre of each book was very helpful, instead of just reading a synopsis. thank you ☺️

[@ebnovels]

Thanks for the lovely comment-your very welcome for the video 😊

[@Craz38]

Raymond E Fiest, David Gemmel, Terry Brooks and David Eddings should also be checked out as they have written great fantasy series. Also I really enjoyed the soldier son series by Robbin Hob as well as other trilogies listed in the comments already that she wrote.

[@Rogue0770]

Totally agree with you, for great coming of age stories read Fiest's Magician (and also the side series The Empire with Janny Wurtz), and Eddings Belgariad series. My 2 favourite Gemmel books are Legend & Waylander, both great reads.

[@Craz38]

@@Rogue0770 did you read Terry Brooks yet? The Shannara books are great.

[@nicbongo]

David Gemmell RIP - Sipstrassi, Rigante and Drenai are all great universes and super approachable. A better intro to the genre with his shortish stories, with great characters and psychology. Miss him dearly.

[@callum7081]

First law is a must read. No chapter of that book is dull and the fact that it’s a truly makes the story move so fast. One of the best I’ve ever read . And all 7 books out in the world are phenomenal.

[@dildeepaksinghladhar5213]

Agree did you find anything similar. I cant find anything like body floating by the docks

[@becklebooks]

This video is grand!! I love that you included shades of magic, even though it’s adult I see it often compared to a more YA category. I’ve literally been scripting a video idea like this one! 😂 But you approached it differently to how I’m thinking. Ah, I love fantasy, whew!

[@AngryZukoHere]

I see it more as adult then YA but I can see what you mean by that.

[@niccolemanz]

Not a heavy reader, so if you're like me, my fav author is David Gemmell. Just good hero based stories. Druss is a Legend.

[@PanaMethul]

I would add "The Second Apocalypse" series by R. Scott Bakker, one of the best fantsy series i've ever read, and is criminally underrated.

[@intenttoinjure]

My man! Iwas just going to write the same thing.

[@scriptorium_layout2753]

Never been into fantasy. However, after reading “The Name of the Wind”, it changed everything. So you are right. This is a good fantasy starter book for adults that normally don’t know or read fantasy. But since there’s so many fantasy books out there, it’s hard to know where to continue. Your video gave me great guidance. I will give a chance to some of the ones you mentioned here. Thank you.

[@robpaul7544]

Well.. that's a TBR to keep anyone busy for quite some time 🤣 And then you've seen the tip of the iceberg 😉 Excellent video! Wish I could find detailed lists as good for every other genre. 👌

[@ebnovels]

Well thanks! I’m glad it was detailed enough to hopefully be helpful 😄

[@Jiren261]

Glad I found this channel, I've been getting into reading more books recently and this'll help me finding stuff to read.

[@markplatten1166]

Why no mention of Robert Jordan dying whilst writing the Wheel of Time series and Brandon Sanderson completing them?

[@mirandapratt4506]

Jordan wasn’t actually planning on finish the series in his lifetime.

[@markplatten1166]

​@@mirandapratt4506 As the series was originally supposed to be shorter, and was started in 1984, I would assume at the start he fully intended to finish the series. He was partially through the 14th/15th (depending on perspective) book, when he died.

[@h.a.6060]

Thank you so much for this video. I really needed to get into high fantasy books. You have explained every series so well. Thumbs up

[@mikaelab7485]

This was a great video for people who want to transition into adult fantasy but don't know what's necessarily good. The pros/cons really helped to narrow down which specific series would appeal to a person's interests. Just curious, do you know of any similar videos for a person looking to dip their toes into the grimdark subgenre?

[@ebnovels]

I made one! Some people said the audio on the video was quiet for them, so I apologize if that’s the case for you. There are less books on the list and a couple of them are the same as a couple of these, but hopefully you’ll find something there :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJW8iHmZnapmock

[@Katie-ug3ep]

Great recap of malazan. I read GOTM with your buddy read, and moved onto DG and honestly I regret starting it at the time I did. It's definitely not something anyone should start if they're busy or have a lot going on - it requires a ton of attention to keep track of what's happening. Erikson just skips the exposition part of story telling completely lol. I feel like to fully enjoy it, you have to be checking things on a wiki, flipping to the appendix constantly, taking notes, etc. I can tell it's something I might like, but starting it during the most difficult term of my engineering degree was a baddddd move. Haha

[@rederik99]

Never check the Wiki! You can ruin some really big moments for yourself. If you really need some help on a section, check the malazan subreddit. They're really good at answering questions while not spoiling the story.

[@kngpin41]

The Burning White is out. Lightbringer is done. Just a heads up

[@ebnovels]

Thanks!

[@leefranklin3054]

1. The Black Company by Glen Cook. 12 Projected books, a rather dark and follows the adventures of a mercenary company. There is a D&D sourcebook for it, so I guess it was a little popular at some point. Last volume is still awaiting publication. None of you fantasy book youtubers seem to know about this one. 2. The Deed of Paksinarion by Elizabeth Moon (Vol 1 Sheep Farmer's Daughter) is a more standard fantasy on the surface, but it deep dives on the idea of "What IS a paladin?" She is still releasing books in the second arc of this story, also for some reason not covered by youtubers.

[@bluesdealer]

WoT will always hold a special place in my heart, but seriously, Robert Jordan, how TF does a voice sound like “lace and steel,” and why must I hear that description over and over?!

[@jasontodd5356]

Fax

[@wino8850]

their voice appears soft but has a strong resolute behind their words

[@teqfreak]

I just recently finished Children of Time, Hyperion and Dune and decided to pick up fantasy for a change and started with the Mistborn Trilogy. Very different kind of read for me when it comes to setting and themes. But it's a breeze and lots of fun!

[@vuhnella2635]

being a teenager who LOVES adult high fantasy books much more than young adult fantasy, its hard to get my friends to read adult fantasy:( i just want to talk about my love for kaladin to someone bro

[@milospollonia1121]

OMG yessssssss. i feel you so hard dude. For real, sometimes i'll go off on a tangent about the deeper themes of colonialism in stormlight and everyone will just go back to talking about throne of glass or something. like, let me tell you about syl dude.

[@andreabelec7852]

This was a great round up wow! You are so well spoken and pretty neutral in your reviews-loved the pros and cons style. Also, you have a great voice :)