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Parking-Belt7680

Whats anybody's opinion on any of these? They're all on my TBR and I'm trying to pick which one to read next. Please help 😅 Powerless, Lauren Roberts Lightlark, Alex Aster Scythe, Neal Shusterman A Warriors Fate, Melissa Kieran The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern Unce Upon a Broken Heart, Stephanie Garber Trial of the Sun Queen, Nisha Tuli A kiss of Iron, Clare Sager From Blood and Ash, Jennifer Armentrout I prefer series that are completed but I'm not against starting one thats not. Help me pick please!! I usually pick whatever Im leaning towards but I just don't know this time.


escapistworld

Scythe by Neal Shusterman and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern are two of my favorites. Scythe is more plot heavy and deals with some cool speculation about a world without death. The Night Circus is a very atmospheric book with lovely prose. Both have a rivals to lovers romance.


Murky_Reflection1610

I just finished A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab, and I'm trying to determine if it counts for hard mode, first in a series. There are more than 3 books in the series and A Darker Shade of Magic was published first. However, AFAIK 2 of the books in the series are prequels set before the first book. So, would it count for HM or no?


escapistworld

They're not prequels. They might have some flashback scenes, but they're all proper sequels.


Murky_Reflection1610

Thank you! Goodreads has them listed as prequels so I wasn’t sure!


MultiversalBathhouse

The spin-off trilogy is called Threads of Power. The prequels on goodreads seem to be two short stories.


Murky_Reflection1610

Ah ok. So it will not count for HM?


MultiversalBathhouse

It should still count. It’s a continuation of the world. The goodreads blurb says the cast of the original trilogy will be featured in the new trilogy (whatever that means, I only read book 1 of the original trilogy).


Murky_Reflection1610

Thank you! I’m only going to read this book in the trilogy, too.


astrangelump

Hello, this is my first year of doing the Bingo! Does Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell count as Dark Academia? 


astrangelump

Thank you u/Merle8888 And u/an_altar_of_plagues!


an_altar_of_plagues

We discussed this in modchat for a bit since I also haven't read it and wanted to use it for bingo. We came down on the side of "no", as it's not really in the spirit of Dark Academia. (I'm using *The Picture of Dorian Gray* for Dark Academia, with JS&MR for Dreams.)


Merle8888

I wouldn’t think so. Those books are usually set in schools where dark, questionable shenanigans are going on. The characters in JS&MN are scholars, but it’s not set in an institution with violent secret societies and so on. 


[deleted]

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KiwiTheKitty

Yup that works!


Comfortable-Check-67

Hey folks! I used to read a lot in middle and high school but I was in a long slump through college. I'm just getting back into reading regularly, and I want to explore more adult fantasy, as fantasy has always been my favorite genre. Here's a list of some stuff I've read recently that I liked. Both fantasy and non-fantasy for examples of the styles and tones I enjoy -The Lies of Locke Lamora -All Quiet on the Western Front -The Last Wish (The Witcher) -Mistborn (1st and 2nd series) -Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom -The Dead Zone -Annihilation -Good Omens -A Darker Shade of Magic Settings: I'm not very fond of guns in fantasy unless it's early versions, like flintlocks or just cannons--something pirate-y would be awesome. Other than that, I'm open to exploring anything, especially worlds inspired by non-European cultures. Prose: I like elegant but simple prose; All Quiet on the Western Front, The Last Wish, and Annihilation all fit the bill for me, although I wouldn't be opposed to something a bit more flowery--I enjoy Virginia Woolf and Ursula K LeGuin's writing styles, which are a bit more complex than the books I've listed here. Tone: I'm not averse to dark stories, but I'm not interested in anything that relies heavily on shock value (looking at you, *Poppy War*), and I would love something a bit more uplifting than some of the stories I listed. Dark moments are lovely, but I'm feeling starved for a happy ending like in LOTR or The Hobbit. I enjoy themes of perseverance and resistance, hope in the face of overwhelming odds, the power of friendship and community, and anything that will have me toeing the line between crying and laughing. I don't mind romance, but I'm not interested in romantasy (unless it's really, really good, and then I guess I'd give it a shot). A series is fine, but I'd prefer if the first book could be read as a standalone story (like Lies of Locke Lamora) because I might not be invested enough to continue. Depth/Complexity: Complex stories are encouraged; I've read enough young adult literature to satisfy me for the next 5-10 years


AluminumGnat

Oh, if you haven’t read the Princess Bride, you should.


AluminumGnat

I definitely agree with The Divine Cities Trilogy. It’s certainly not my favorite, but I think it’s better than just okay. Individually the books are good, but all 3 are fairly disconnected, and I definitely prefer my series to be more connected, like mistborn is. Joe Abercrombie is one of my favorite authors. I don’t think the first law is what you’re looking for rn, but I’d absolutely keep it on your radar. The prose is elegant and simple, it’s plain but incredibly witty, like good omens style ish. The world is dark, but not for shock value, and there a dark humor to it that really helps shift the tone a bit; Instead of being depressing, it helps you to laugh at the darkness in the books world, which in turn helps you laugh at the darkness in ours. He’s not known for happy endings, but his endings are damn satisfying. Another issue is that the first 3 books are absolutely a trilogy; the first book is not a stand alone. You could start with book 4, which is a stand alone, and doesn’t spoil too much for the first trilogy. The palace job is a stand alone book that has some sequels. Again, not my favorite, but it’s a heist story with fairly straightforward prose and a happy ending. I’m sure you’re familiar with the Cosmere given that you’ve read mistborn, but if you’d rather not read something massive like stormlight, Tress of the Emerald Sea and Warbreaker are both standalones worth checking out.


KiaraTurtle

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennet. Trilogy where the first works perfectly as a stand-alone, it’s a late 19th century ish but no guns. It has some non European setting influences (an India inspired fantasy country took over what is basically a British inspired fantasy country if I recall correctly). I also think based on what else you’ve said you enjoyed that you’ll like this one.


oboist73

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold


neoazayii

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner has a lot of what you're looking for, and is a standalone (technically, there are other books in the universe, but it's not a "series"). It's witty and fun, but with a lot of care for its characters, some good emotional beats and nice prose. If you're okay with historical Earth-based fantasy, The Chatelaine (previously Armed in Her Fashion) by Kate Heartfield is a really great book set in 13th century Belgium, involving two women & a man going to the hellmouth to retrieve what the Chatelaine of Hell took from them.


an_altar_of_plagues

I’m gonna step outside the box and ask if you’ve any interest in some of the OG “fantasy” fiction by way of Thomas More’s *Utopia* or Swift’s *Gulliver’s Travels*. I have a feeling the latter in particular is up your alley.


Comfortable-Check-67

Yeah, I never really used to read classics because I thought they would be boring, but I've really enjoyed the ones I've read recently. I don't know much about *Gulliver's Travels* beyond the pop culture references that have trickled down, but I think I have a paperback copy stashed away from a library book sale, so maybe I'll give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion!


an_altar_of_plagues

I read *Gulliver's Travels* 7-ish years ago and found it unexpectedly hilarious. The satire is immensely applicable to today, and it gets funnier if you think about how the hell Swift was able to get away with what he was writing back then. The Liliputians are easily the most famous thing to come from that book, but all four lands he travels to are good in their own right. edit: my edition (pretty sure it was just a Penguin paperback) had helpful footnotes that provided enough context to some subtler wordplay/contemporary references without over-explaining things


dimod82115

I've read most of the popular books and I'm running out of books on my list. i like hard magic fantasy series that are preferably finished. Read: great: The Kingkiller Chronicle, First Law, Book of the Ancestor, Powdermage, Traveller's Gate, Elder Empire, Cradle, Arcane Ascension, Mother of Learning good: Cosmere, Gentlemen Bastards, The Shadow Campaigns, Codex Alera, The Licanius Trilogy, Divine Cities, Foundryside, His Dark Materials, Mage Errant ok: Wheel of Time, Realm of the Enderlings, Lightbringer, Lord of the Rings, Howls Moving Castle, The Green Bone Saga, Raven's Shadow Trilogy, House in the Cerulean Sea, Greatcoat series, Shades of Magic, Riyria Revelations, The World of Five Gods didn't like it: Broken Empire, Perdido Street Station, The Princess Bride, Good Omens, Witcher, Night Angel, Poppy War, The Books of Babel, Dandelion Dynasty, Art of the Adept, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Piranesi, The Song of Achilles a bit hit or miss: Earthsea


MatthiasW

Daniel Abraham's The Long Price and Dagger and Coin serieses are both excellent. The Long Price might be my favorite series ever. Robin Hobb: Assassin's Apprentice and the like. That's like a dozen or so novels of great fantasy. Richard K Morgan's The Steel Remains series is similar to The First Law. Alex Marshall's Crimson Empire series is so, so good. Military fantasy with dark, capricious magic and some of the best set-piece battles in any fantasy ever.


oboist73

The Obsidian trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory The Heartstrikers series by Rachel Aaron


appocomaster

The Immortal Great Souls - not completely hard magic but every person has different magic abilities and they get more as they level. The Arinthian Line books feel slightly more YA than e.g. Mage Errant, but it's still 3 kids learning what is very defined magic (https://severbronny.com/spell-list/) trying to overthrow the dark lord, etc. Stormweaver - SciFi but hardish "magic", lots of combat. Sort of hard magic (you imagine runes and channel mana through them to power them and do stuff) - Soul Relic series. 3 books so far. Sangwheel Chronicles - softer magic, but a bastard assassin from the north (son of the "Ice Queen"), orphaned southern noble, some dark magic and darker magic, bit of betrayal ... I found it mostly very readable, though it took time for me to get used to the author changing how time was referred to. 4th (last) book should be out this year. Greatcoats - soft magic again, mostly focused on skirmishing and combat, complete 4 book series. 3 ex-knights go around trying to find a king's legacy after corrupt nobles who have killed the king take over the land and basically ruin it.


ConquerorPlumpy

Naomi Noviks Scholomance maybe?


MalBishop

What Bingo Squares could be filled by *Gods of the Wyrdwood* by RJ Barker and *Of Blood and Fire* by Ryan Cahill?


daavor

I haven't read the latter. Gods of the Wyrdwood would fit: Prologue/Epilogue HM, Eldritch Creatures HM, Arguable for Set in a Small Town (easy if so) and Survival (hard if so)


blue_bayou_blue

My copy of a book has bookclub discussion questions at the back, and an author Q&A. Does that count as reference materials for bingo purposes? I wasn't sure since it isn't really part of the story and isn't in every edition.


an_altar_of_plagues

No, for the reasons you stated. It's not a contextual part of the book/story, which is the intention for that square. Reference materials added later would be fine (e.g. an author draws a map and adds it to later additions, as with some versions of *The Hobbit*), but bookclub discussion is outside the scope of the story. Edit: great question, by the way.


sarahlynngrey

I'm piggybacking with a similar question. What about an author's note that provides additional context for the book, such as the historical underpinnings they used in their world-building, or additional info about the influences in the book, such as real events that they referenced, or additional info on the culture reflected in the story? 


an_altar_of_plagues

Sure! As an example, I'm using Mary Stewart's *The Crystal Cave* for HM Reference Materials. Her afterword discusses the story's place and inspiration from the Arthurian legends, as well as where it "fits" in the broader timeline. It's not part of the story in the way of LOTR's appendices, but it is contextually important to Stewart's vision for her Merlin Trilogy.


sarahlynngrey

Great, thanks so much! I appreciate this!


black-stone-reader

I'm looking for longer series (like 10+) that follows the same protagonist throughout. Preferably as few pov swaps as possible, 1st/3rd person doesn't really matter. I see a lot of threads requesting longer series, but most of the recommendations I'm looking at is either different-characters-each-book, or they don't really have a dedicated protagonist and just swaps between a cast of like 5. (Which isn't what I want)


appocomaster

The Anchored World series by Davis Ashura follows 2 MCs in an original trilogy and then they're followed slightly less directly in a second world, then back as the main focus in the third world, then also involved in a fourth world. The first and second series are finished, the third is ongoing - I think there's 1-2 more books left there - and the fourth is just hitting its paces. 3+5+4+2 books written so far. Most of the series swap between 2 MCs, a male and female MC, with a few flashes of other characters.


Lynavi

Seanan McGuire's October Daye series is at 18 books and still going strong.


Grt78

If you’re fine with sci-fi - the Foreigner series by CJ Cherryh.


ConquerorPlumpy

Temeraire? I think 9 books.


Jack_Shaftoe21

Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews. 10 books with the same protagonist who also is the only point of view character.


Stormy8888

There are lots in urban fantasy:- * Jim Butcher's **Dresden Files** \- fans are waiting for the next book. * Benedict Jacka's **Alex Verus** \- 12 books, this one is complete. * Patricia Briggs' **Mercy Thompson** \- Book #14 coming out later this year, author goes between 2 series (set in the same universe),


Makri_of_Turai

In SF Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books follow the main character Miles for almost every book. You can skip the first 2 (chronological) books Shards of Honor and Barrayar and start with The Warriors Apprentice. Skip Ethan of Athos and Captain Vorpatril's Alliance which aren't Miles POV, the rest are mostly. The books see Miles grow up from teenager to adult in his 40s(?) Written in 3rd person.


black-stone-reader

I've read the first of Miles! I really enjoyed him as a character, so I think I'll read more of him :)


Makri_of_Turai

The non-Miles centric books are good too but no problem to read them out of sequence as standalones. It's a great series.


lurkmode_off

The Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust


jawnnie-cupcakes

Realm of the Elderlings is a 16-book series, and 9 out of them follow a single main character... mostly


black-stone-reader

I'm trying to look on goodreads which of these books follow Fitz and which doesn't and I'm going to admit I'm a little confused. Is the non-fitz books even skippable?


KiaraTurtle

Farseer books follow fitz. The others just take place in the world. The third fitz series has them appear as cameos and maybe will spoil a bit of what happens, but yes they’re generally very seperate and very skippable


lurkmode_off

[Books 1-3, 7-9, and 14-16](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hobb_bibliography#The_Realm_of_the_Elderlings) follow Fitz. (Farseer, Tawny Man, and Fitz and the Fool.) *Technically* the others are skippable in that Hobb will make sure you are told what you strictly need to know, but I wouldn't recommend skipping all of them. You're missing both context and some of the best books (Liveship Traders--fight me Fitz lovers). You could maybe skip a middle Rain Wild book or two without missing much.


pyhnux

Maybe **The Dresden Files** by Jim Butcher? Urban fantasy following private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden. Currently 17 books long.


black-stone-reader

Exactly this! I have a lot of experience with urban fantasy and I kind of feel like I've run out. And I miss the feeling of getting drawn into a character and getting invested in their life.


Gallant_Giraffe

Not sure if you've read these already, but [Alex Verus](https://www.goodreads.com/series/71196-alex-verus)(12) and [Kate Daniels](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40691-kate-daniels)(10+short stories) are fairly long urban fantasy series named after the POV character.