Top 10 Fantasy Books I've Read

[@the_fools_tale]

Charlie. You have impeccable taste, my friend. I need to continue onto the sequel of Spindle Manor too! Guess I need to bump Piranesi up the TBR also

[@charlie-read-a-book]

I’ll let you know when I pick up the next Lamplight book! Maybe we can do an informal buddy read haha. And yes especially now that you read and loved Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell you HAVE to get to Piranesi. A great great book.

[@TheRickaboss]

Considering similarities between our favorites, I think you might enjoy Hyperion if you've never read it. Some of the tales (especially the Priest's and Scholar's) in the book gave me a similar sense of page turning bizarre intrigue that Piranesi gave me. Loved the video and I'll be adding Silver in the Wood to the top of my list!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Comparing a book to Piranesi is a cheat code to get me to read it. I will shift that waaaay up on my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation and thanks for watching! Glad you liked the video~

[@TheRickaboss]

​@@charlie-read-a-bookThe blanket story as a whole is science fiction, but it reads like a collection of short stories that vary in genre. There's an excellent full cast audiobook.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Audio will probably be where I go for that then, I’m mostly audiobooks as of late anyway tbh

[@bandito2023]

First video I’ve seen of yours. Loved the diversity of genres. Added some new books to my tbr. Thank you!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!

[@kadenhall8869]

First video of yours I have watched, you gained a new sub! Really enjoyed your perspective on all of these books. I have read all of them except One Punch Man, and I am in total agreement with your perspectives!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Oh wow similar tastes, that’s awesome! Guess this means you should pick One Punch Man up! Thanks for watching!

[@MemphisJones]

Wow, your friend Sam may be onto something. This top 10 video is your highest viewed on your channel by ALOT!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Yeah, I do NOT know how that happened 😂 The man is a genius!

[@Eli-eq8wi]

SAGA mentioned!!!! 🎉🥳🕺 I love Saga so much and it doesn’t get half the recognition it deserves

[@charlie-read-a-book]

AGREED! It deserves so much more hype.

[@alving4tube]

Enjoyed the video. I had loved Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, so I thought I would be an easy fan of Piranesi. I think I might enjoy it better on reread. Though I found the writing to be wondrous, I think I was so preoccupied with figuring out the mystery that I didn't really pay enough attention to what I was reading. It was as if I was so busy trying to form a flower from a pile of petals that I didn't notice how lovely the petals were on their own. Thanks for your recommendation of One Punch Man. It seems odd to be included with the other content on your list, but you nicely explain why it's there. I watched the first episode of the anime but it didn't grab me. You've inspired me to give the manga a try.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Always glad to see one of your comments on my videos. They’re all so well thought out. I know Piranesi doesn’t work for everyone and I’ve never been able to figure out why that is but the idea of being too focused on solving the mystery is very interesting - I definitely was not trying to figure it out when I read it so I just melted into the words. I do hope you pick up One Punch Man! It’s just such an easy silly read. I can always count on it for times when I need something simple and entertaining.

[@elfflame]

You mentioning Saga makes me think of two of my favorite graphic novel series. Fables, which is about all the fairy tale creatures living in modern day New York. Just a fabulous series. And the other is called Elfquest. Definitely softer than Saga, but at the same time, it's got some distinctly and surprisingly hard edges. I do hope you'll check them out!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Fables has been high on my list for years now but I’ve never gotten around to it for some reason. Elfquest I’ve never even heard of! Thanks for the recommendations I’ll be sure to check those out!

[@Lost_the_plot89]

O.o A new graphic novel to check out!! I think, I will be getting around to Song of Achilles somewhere next year, looking forward to the read!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with either!

[@szabodaniel18]

Honestly, this was the most unique "TOP 10 Fantasy Books" so far in Booktube community (or at least whom I follow), what I had seen. Only Sanderson who is on the most people's top lists, but the others are not common choices in the top tiers. Taking into consideration your taste, I would like to recommend a fantasy trilogy and a standalone (I don't read them yet, but I think they would fit to you): The Winnowing Flame trilogy from Jen Williams and Ka from John Crowley. The latter's has written from a bird perpective.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

I hope the uniqueness is a good thing 😅 Winnowing Flame I’ve had on my list for a while now, I think you’re right that Ill like that one. I just looked into Ka and whooaaaa that sounds cool - I don’t think I’ve read from the POV of a bird before! Thanks for the recommendations!

[@szabodaniel18]

​@@charlie-read-a-book No offense intented. :) Uniqueness, yeah, it is a good thing, especially in any kind forms of arts. If I used the "strange" word as an "epithet" for your unique list, it could have had a supposedly negative connotation in certain interprets. What I meant, you showed us some valuable books from the genre which are not necessary part of the mainstream. It reminded me to this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6LVYqqpnr6bh9ksi=z_cdAM4tzT3Jq9Bg Both of you represented, that how vast the speculative fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, horror etc) is. So, it was a great video, I enjoyed it. [By the way, greetings from Hungary. :)]

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Wow that’s a great video - that guys voice is awesome! Wish he narrated some audiobooks. I appreciate the kind words and I’m glad you liked the video :) Hungary?! Cool!

[@jezzarte3587]

First video I see from you! It's absolutely refreshing that you picked up different types of literature! I was like OMG a manga?? a graphic novel?? hell yeah!! As a thank you, I give you a recommendation back: The Will of The Many by James Islington! ✨

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Hah thank you - I’m glad you liked the video! I’m the only person on this planet that did not love The Will of the Many 🫣I’msosorrypleasedontunsubscribe🫣 I didn’t DISLIKE it but I just didn’t love it. Not sure why! Regardless thanks for the rec I really appreciate it. And thanks again for watching.

[@jezzarte3587]

@ haha not unsuscribing! 😂 valid opinion!! for example i have found brandon saderson difficult to trap me, but maybe i haven’t chosen the right book yet!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

@@jezzarte3587 ooooh what have you tried by him so far?

[@markolepotan]

I really enjoyed this video and great recommendations!!! Finally someone who is not recommending books we all read and know

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Glad you liked it! I haven’t read all the big names so I wasn’t sure if my list would resonate with anyone but I’m glad you found that refreshing!

[@readingwithrebeccanicole]

I really like the idea of looking at these lists as pyramid. I also have a really hard time ranking my favorites, so I usually do my lists in no particular order, but I might need to steal this idea

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Please do! I found it was much easier to structure the list like this.

[@marianneguevara8279]

I recently read Piranesi and adored it; its a superb fantasy standalone! I definitely want to read her first book now. I also enjoyed The Tainted Cup but I have yet to read A Murder at Spindle Manor. Have you considered trying out The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft? Its also a mystery story that takes place in a fantasy world.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Yes Piranesi is so great! I’m due for a reread of that one I think. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell is a must if you like her writing. It’s a big book but if you take your time with it I’m sure you’ll love it! I’ve only read Bancroft’s Senlin Ascends and I loved it. Hoping to finish that series next year and then maybe I’ll give Hexologists a shot! Thanks for the rec!

[@marianneguevara8279]

@@charlie-read-a-book I'm very glad to hear you loved Senlin Ascends! The Books of Babel are one of my favorite series of all time. I'd love to hear you thoughts on all the books when you've finished them.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

That’s really great to hear because I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews on those books - with how much I loved book one I imagine I’ll have a lot of fun with the rest. Videos will be sure to follow 🫡

[@yoagie]

Radical most excellent list. Got a couple of things to add to the TBR.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Keep it under a hundred!

[@yoagie]

I preemptively cut a couple before even starting the video

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Good man

[@bc-mv5se]

Good job. You had me at Dracula. Lists are good, but maybe check yourself at top 100 dark academy steam punk anime

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Thanks for watching! 🧛‍♂️ 🫡

[@timburbagereads]

Of the Top 10, 1 you didn't have the book you had the sequel. 1 you changed your mind so you had a different book. And 1 you had the Italian copy when you don't read Italian. 😂😂 This was a really interesting list and had some different stories than everyone else. I'm working on mine now, just so one day Sam will do a video on it 😂

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Haha TO BE CLEAR I do own those I just love them so much that they’ve been lent out to my friends and family - sharing is caring! 😂 Looking forward to your list!

[@readingwithrebeccanicole]

I'm more excited to pick up Piranesi after reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell! It's on my must read list for next year

[@charlie-read-a-book]

I fully agree that you MUST READ it!

[@readingwithrebeccanicole]

Gah, someone needs to yell at me until I read Silver in the Wood. I don't know why I keep putting it off!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

I volunteer! READ IT!

[@readingwithrebeccanicole]

@@charlie-read-a-book 🤣🤣

[@toinenosoite3173]

An extremely interesting list - until you got to number one. As you can understand, the entire Mistborn is not one of my favourite series at all. Neverthless, you have so many ineresting books in your top 10. Thus, thank you for the tips!

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Thanks for watching! Mistborn occupies a lot of space in my heart for getting me into the genre, and back into reading as a whole, so my feelings on the series are admittedly biased!

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@charlie-read-a-book That is something I have read so many times, but still, love it if you love it. There is no shame or bad thing in it - I probably am in the minority! We can all have different opinions of what we have read and what we love, and that is as it should be. Otherwise, we would just be like zombies with no personality.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Totally agree!

[@SamHarrison2099]

If you’re into One Punch Man I’d recommend Mashle. It’s a comedy manga where a dude who is mega jacked but can’t do spells goes to Japanese Hogwarts.

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Haha I love Mashle! I’ve only read three volumes so far but it’s so good! Great recommendation for one punch man fans for sure.

[@ladymairreads]

Pirinessi is high on my list for next year

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Can’t wait to hear your review!

[@arekkrolak6320]

2:54

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Silver in the Woooooooood

[@tomgenek7714]

My type of Booktuber, honest takes and no soy face... rare these days...

[@charlie-read-a-book]

Haha I don’t know what soy face is but glad you liked the content, thanks for watching!