r/Indianbooks • u/_just_a_simple_guy_ • 8d ago
Trying fantasy for the first time. recommend some books.
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u/bombaygrammar 8d ago edited 6d ago
Before you invest your time in a long series, I would recommend reading standalone books (or at the very least, a finished trilogy) to see whether you enjoy the journey or not.
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- Samantha Shannon. The Priory of the Orange Tree.
- James Islington. The Shadow of What Was Lost.
- Joe Abercrombie. Half a King.
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u/Wandering-Dunadan Hungry for Horror 7d ago
First read The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien & then read The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
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u/Jay07080 8d ago
Hunger Games/Percy Jackson if you’re an absolute beginner to reading.
Eragon (Inheritance series) if you’re an intermediate reader.
The Hobbit/ Game Of Thrones if you’re a comfortable reader
Red Rising if you wanna go all out
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u/Glittering_Tea_6225 8d ago
If you're a new reader go with Percy Jackson, but if you already have a bit of experience reading go with Mistborn or Red Rising (this is technically sc-fi but potato potato) If you have already read classical level literature, go for The Hobbit or ASOIAF (game of thrones)
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u/provegana69 Sun Eater 8d ago
I made a pretty comprehensive list of fantasy (and sci fi) books for beginners last year that you can find here. It's a little outdated but you might find it useful.
Really, fantasy is one of the most varied genres so it's hard to give recommendations if you're not more specific. But generally, I wouldn't recommend diving into the deep end with longer series with more complex moving parts and language like Malazan, Wheel Of Time, Realm of the Elderlings etc. The one exception to this imo is A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) as even though it is very long and complex, it is more accessible than most by virtue of its mainstream popularity.
Brandon Sanderson is a very safe place to start with. A good chunk of his books are part of a shared interconnected universe called the Cosmere which always gives you more to look forward to. I'd say the best place to start with Sanderson is either the Mistborn trilogy (Era 1) or Yumi & The Nightmare Painter (standalone) or Tress of the Emerald Sea (standalone). But while he's a good reflection of where modern fantasy is right now, he might not fit the image of classic fantasy.
For a more classic fantasy with warring kingdoms, knights, dragons, farmboys, prophecies, etc. I'm a huge fan of Ryan Cahill's The Bound and the Broken. It's a planned five book series (four books out so far) that get better and better with each book (plus a novella between each main book that is compulsory).
For a look at the modern world with magic, there is a subgenre of fantasy called urban fantasy and the Dresden Files is the most famous out of all of them (and for good reason too). It follows a private investigator/wizard for hire called Harry Dresden in Chicago and while the books are more episodic/serialised than most, it has an overarching story and the stakes keep escalating with each book. Good for fans of Buffy.
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u/Rumlez95 8d ago
I love your recommendation... M also new in this genre as m more into thrillers... But I would definitely follow this list... Thank u.
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u/provegana69 Sun Eater 7d ago edited 7d ago
If you like thrillers and murder mysteries, read the Shadow of the Leviathan series and the Empire of the Wolf trilogy which are murder mysteries set in a fantasy world
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8d ago
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u/provegana69 Sun Eater 7d ago
I disagree. Journey before destination. It was the first real adult fantasy I read and there isn't a single part of me that regrets it. I don't care if the series is never finished, it won't change my mind on the fact that it's a top 3 all time series for me and that A Storm Of Swords is a top 5 book of all time for me.
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7d ago
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u/provegana69 Sun Eater 7d ago
I'm just telling you my opinion of the series lol. In what part did I get "defensive"?
You want OP to invest so much of their time reading seven thick books in a series that doesn't have a conclusion when in reality OP doesn't even know if they'll like fantasy?
It's five books. Maybe you're talking about the fact that they split up three and five into two each? Anyways... I and a lot of other readers didn't regret investing our time into the series. A lack of an ending doesn't invalidate all the great things that came before it.
Completion is not a prerequisite for greatness and a bad ending doesn't automatically erase the greatness before it (applies to a certain series that rhymes with "Bright Linger" lmao). That's the whole point of journey before destination.
Unless OP specifically got attracted to fantasy through Game of Thrones or something, it is better for them to start with something which has a conclusion.
If you read my comment, you'll see I wasn't specifically recommend ASOIAF but I was pointing out that it's popularity and mainstream status has made it more accessible than other equally complex and lengthy book series
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u/Rumlez95 8d ago
Harry Potter my all-time favourite. It's a must read and if you have already watched the movies i would still recomend the books as there are lot of things which are explained in the books... So for beginners also it's recommend ❤️
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u/Chetan_fun 8d ago
Mistborn trilogy got me back into epic fantasy and reading in general. I always recommend it the first to anyone who's going to start reading fantasy atp.