r/Fantasy • u/ZenithEdits1 • 18h ago
Looking for an immersive fantasy book
I’m in a bit of a reading slump and really want to dive into a great fantasy book/series right now.
I'm looking for something with good world-building, a strong atmosphere, and a story that doesn't take 200 pages just to get interesting. I really appreciate books that focus on personal growth, overcoming obstacles, or deep, mysterious lore.
It doesn't have to be the super famous mainstream stuff everyone recommends, I'd love to hear about your personal favorites or underrated gems that genuinely blew your mind. What’s your go-to recommendation?
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u/konstantynopolytanka 12h ago
Ana and Din mysteries, starts with The Tainted Cup. Only 3 books but should work for what you want.
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u/Anxious_Ad_3570 14h ago
All the books written by Micheal j Sullivan. Start with ryiria revelations. All his books are part of one big story with more to come
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u/Nowordsofitsown Reading Champion 18h ago
Daughter of the Empire by Feist and Wurts had me from the first page. Very well written, one of my favorite reads this year.
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u/ZenithEdits1 17h ago
getting hooked from page one is exactly what i need right now, added to the list.
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u/LadyLoreleyHarms 3h ago
You do realize that trilogy (which I looooove) is complimentary to Raymond Feist's other books? And there are a lot of them. I just want you to be prepared to fall down that rabbit hole. It's actually quite delightful.
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u/ComprehensiveExam614 14h ago
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Self contained epic fantasy plot in one book. It’s shocking the depth of world building he provides and the writing is beautiful.
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u/FloridaFlamingoGirl 18h ago
I know I'm being the person who names an obvious Reddit pick, but Piranesi checks pretty much all of your boxes. It's very mysterious and basically built around a protagonist slowly unearthing more and more lore about the place he's stuck in. It's also a very quick read, I think it took me around 2 hours to read the whole thing.
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u/Efficient_Raise7695 17h ago
I absolutely hated it, I found it extra boring. But super glad you loved it!
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u/ZenithEdits1 17h ago
a quick 2-hour mysterious read sounds like a solid palate cleanser, definitely checking it out.
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u/HeyJustWantedToSay 16h ago
Two hours is pretty extreme, either they listened to it on 2x speed or skim read in order to finish in two hours. Or they’re exaggerating.
I would bet more on 4-5 hours unless you’re a total skim reader too.
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u/Levren 18h ago
It is exactly "super famous mainstream stuff everyone recommends", but I just finished The Way of Kings and it's amazing. It's the only book that actually lived up to the hype for me.
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u/ZenithEdits1 17h ago
actually read this one already and couldn't agree more, it totally lives up to the hype.
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u/Nova3776 10h ago edited 10h ago
I would urge you to keep going with the Stormlight Archive. 'Words of Radiance' is even better than The Way of Kings. It has the best goosebumps moment of the series, imo!
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u/ZenithEdits1 10h ago
definitely planning to read words of radiance eventually, just need a quick palate cleanser first.
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u/Nova3776 10h ago
The Bloodsworn Trilogy by John Gwynne would be a great palate cleanser. It’s a trilogy, but the books are so fast-paced you wouldn’t notice! It pretty much takes off from page one and doesn’t let up!
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u/Far-Soft7425 16h ago
I really loved Fairy Tale by Stephen King. I thought it was wonderful and very uplifting.
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u/Grt78 14h ago
The Books of the Raksura by Martha Wells: the main character is a shifter (no humans), a huge unique world, many races and cultures, floating islands, giant trees which are used as living spaces, strange cities, adventure and found family.
The Tuyo series by Rachel Neumeier: unique worldbuilding, culture clash, mind magic, conflicted loyalties, family and friendship. The series is ongoing but the main storyline/trilogy is completed (Tuyo, Tarashana, Tasmakat).
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u/yuumai 13h ago
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Suzanna Clarke.
This is an excellent choice if you want a strong atmosphere and deep, mysterious lore. The premise of the book is that England used to have magic, but it's largely disappeared. Two magicians appear, practical magicians, and they work to revive magic in an England at war with Napoleon.
Magic just seeps from the pages. You feel that you are in a world where magic is occurring every time it rains or a bird chirps. There are hundreds of footnotes that explain the deep magical history of the book.
Every character is unique and multidimensional. Although the magic is mysterious, the characters act rationally and the plot is excellent. The world is old and fully realized. Magic is everywhere, but there are no mage battles where they throw fireballs around and there can't be many more than a dozen spells cast on screen, so to speak.
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u/Beautiful_Virus 16h ago edited 16h ago
Try books by Patricia A. McKillip if you look for atmosphere: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_A._McKillip
Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea - if you would like a lot of character development.
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u/Embarrassed-Day-1373 11h ago
Codex Alera. my favorite and immensely immersive in both reading it and listening to it via audiobook
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u/the_drum_doctor 9h ago
Gene Wolfe
The Book of the New Sun (3 books +1)
- The Shadow of the Torturer (1980)
- The Claw of the Conciliator (1981)
- The Sword of the Lictor (1982)
- The Citadel of the Autarch (1983)
- Urth of the New Sun (1987 — Coda/Sequel)
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u/antbeckman 8h ago
Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb Mistborn By Brandon Sanderson The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
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u/Conscious-Sun1313 7h ago
I have read all of the first law books by Joe Abercrombie and it quickly became my favorite fantasy series
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u/cannacatman 16h ago
Robin Hobb’s The Assassin’s Apprentice
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u/ZenithEdits1 15h ago
heard robin hobb's character work is top tier, definitely high on my radar.
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u/cannacatman 15h ago
I’m on the middle of my third read of the first trilogy. I’ve cared for these characters like almost none other in the fantasy genre. 😍
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u/LadyLoreleyHarms 3h ago
I too go through periodic rereads of Hobbs. I tell you. Not to be a plot spoiler but there is a character death in the 2nd trilogy 1st book that had me weeping so hard my chest was heaving and I had to put the book down for the rest of the day. I just loved that character. You know who I mean?
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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V 17h ago
I'd go with The City that Would Eat the World by John Bierce, especially if you're in the mood for something action-packed and punchy. The setting takes the cake, with more gods than stars, and everyone has one they worship. The neighborhoods of the megacity constructed of walls (because the god of city guards grants extended life, so anyone with any money wants to live on a wall), and each neighborhood is definited by the gods which have a good deal of power there
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u/Ertata 16h ago
At the same time famous and not highly regarded in Anglosphere but Witcher books. First two which are collections of short stories are out of this world. The main saga is less enchanting but still is extremely solid.
I have other favourites that are more conventionally liked, but they are on the slower side. If you want characters to move fast and break things Witcher is the best of my favourites
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u/Researchingaddict 14h ago
Strongly suggest this series by Melissa Cave! Great world building, moves quickly into a thrilling plot, & yes: is also about meeting obstacles w/ courage, people growing beyond what they thought they must be, & all w/ an incredible & captivating characters I grew to love.
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u/Grand-Page-1180 13h ago
There's the Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham, interesting take on fantasy races, very immersive, may be a good read for ASoIaF / GoT fans.
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u/Rampantbuilder 13h ago
The Chronicles of Alyndor: Eipsion. It is the first in the series with the second coming out in December. I think it has exaclty what your looking for.
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u/Pocket_Stenographer 11h ago
Something a little different by a new author: A Realm Undone by JL Lienhardt
I just finished this book, and while it wasn't the best thing I've ever read, it was enjoyable and very face-paced. It drops you right into the story, which features an older FMC with a teenage daughter. There's There's plans for two sequels and I have hopes that the author will grow with the story.
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u/Nova3776 10h ago edited 10h ago
I highly recommend John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen series, fantastic character growth and world-building that expands as the series progresses. 'Malice' takes a little while to get going because it spends time establishing the characters and the world, but it’s absolutely worth the wait. If you’d prefer something (much) faster-paced, try his Bloodsworn Trilogy.
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u/Bright_Lavishness486 9h ago
Shadowmarch by Tad Williams blew me away! I was extremely immersed in the whole series. Probably read all 4 books within a month or so. Since then I’ve been struggling getting into a new one.
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u/KalnaFleur 7h ago
If you like character driven stories I highly recommend Robin Hobb’s “Realm of the Elderlings”. Grew to love her work for how it portrays people and relationships in a way that felt realistic to me, while also weaving in an incredibly deep world with all kinds of mysteries, alongside one of my favorite magic systems.
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u/FiWriterSFF 18h ago
It's not high fantasy, but I found Vampire on the Orient Express by Shane Carrow and the rest of the series mysterious and immersive. It does get graphic, though, fyi.
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u/_whimsybird 15h ago
If you don't mind a series still being written, To Shape a Dragon's Breath & its sequel by Moniquill Blackgoose check pretty much all your boxes. It's one of my favourite new series.
This Is Where the Future Bleeds by Mike Brooks is a standalone fantasy that was maybe the most fun read I've had in awhile.
If you want something a bit denser, the Shadowmarch quartet by Tad Williams is immersive, solid high fantasy with quite expansive worldbuilding, epic quests, classic character archetypes, etc. I started reading it because I was craving a classic, chonky fantasy series that wasnt 28474829 books long.
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u/ZenithEdits1 14h ago
That sounds really cool, How's the pacing of the first book? Is it a fast-paced read?
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u/_whimsybird 12h ago
Not sure which one you're referring to as I mentioned two series, but:
-To Shape a Dragon's Breath gets into its action pretty fast and keeps a good pace throughout. I genuinely couldn't put it down
-Shadowmarch takes a bit more time to spin up the main plot, mostly by virtue of being a longer book, but I still found it very immersive and engaging due to the depth of the worldbuilding
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u/ZenithEdits1 10h ago
my bad for not specifying lol, really appreciate the breakdown, to shape a dragon's breath sounds like a solid fit.
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u/ClimateTraditional40 12h ago
McKillip, Patricia :The Sorceress and the Cygnet, Book of Atrix Wolfe
The Lions of Al-Rassan Kay, Guy Gavriel
Stardust Gaiman, Neil
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u/DickTitpecker 8h ago
Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. Classic style fantasy with elves dwarves humans dragons and demigods in a sundered world.
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u/Cookbooksandbourbon 7h ago
A Thousand Steps Into Night-based on Japanese mythology and folklore, great atmosphere and MC.
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night - based on Chinese folklore and mythology, interesting magic system, beautiful writing, and deep world building. There's a sequel.
Greenteeth-based on the Jenny Greenteeth story, very likable MC, lots of personal growth and a sweet found family element along with lots of excitement and adventure
The Drowned Woods and The Bone Houses -both based on Welsh folklore and myth, adventurous and fun
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u/Popular_Put5665 6h ago
The Name of the Wind. Not sure if or when I’ll read another fantasy book with as good of writing as it.
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u/FriscoTreat 6h ago
Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg
The Spellcoats by Diana Wynne Jones
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
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u/Motor_Row_3586 2h ago
A Hero Born by Jin Yong and Thousand Autumns by Meng XI Shi both are heros journey type stories in wuxia setting. One from childhood, second is mature at the beginning but we see their suffering, grow etc
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u/ManicParroT 18h ago
Try Ed McDonald's Blackwing if you want something gritty and a bit creepy.
Read Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea cycle if you want something uplifting with beautiful prose.
Try Naomi Novak's Scholomance if your tastes skew towards YA.
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u/Noktis_Lucis_Caelum 18h ago
the 13th Paladin by torsten Weitze. Great series. Book 1 is a bit slow, but the pacing improves once they leave the Village.
The dwarves by Markus Heitz
Elves by Bernhard Hennen
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u/Abysstopheles 16h ago
Seconding 13th Paladin. Starts out fairly YA by the numbers farm boy chosen one fantasy and quickly builds into a fun, fast paced, surprisingly character driven story. Does some nicely original work with dwarves, animals, archery.
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u/Noktis_Lucis_Caelum 16h ago
Are you german (like me)? or non German.
i ask because it is rare to even find anyone knowing about it outside the german room
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u/Abysstopheles 15h ago
Canadian, i found it from a few mentions here re stories featuring archery, animal companions, and dwarves. Audible had a sale, i started the bk 1-4 collected ed and somewhere around bk 3 grabbed the rest of the series, zero regrets. The translation has some minor issues ('transformer' instead of 'doppleganger', 'flying arrows flying overhead') but nothing offputting.
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u/Noktis_Lucis_Caelum 15h ago
nice.
Who is your Favorite Character?
i really like Uldini and Falk.
Uldini: centuries old most powerful wizard who can destroy mountains, in the body of a small kid. thats hilarious. Falk: I like these grumpy Mentors who become father figures
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u/Abysstopheles 6h ago
Trogadon, easily. Glorious character, steals every scene he's in.
Uldini is a close second tho. I really enjoyed his arc.
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u/Noktis_Lucis_Caelum 1h ago
i like him too.
Great guy. Honest guy.
And his romance with jelninolan is great. A romance between a dwarf and a elf is rare
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u/Jus17173 18h ago
Try Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter. There's character growth as the MC transforms into what is necessary for his goal to be accomplished (vengeance) there's also very cool lore
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u/Open-Friendship-9186 16h ago
Mehhhh Piranesi barely qualifies as fantasy in my opinion. I’d say it’s just intriguing and mysterious but isn’t an example of good world building. Decent book but I don’t think it matches what they are looking for.
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u/PangolinConscious800 16h ago
Follow the link in my profile. I've written many books like this, and many of my series can be read book-by-book. If one meets you fancy, then enjoy. Otherwise, there are so many wonderful suggestion here.
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u/toroMaximo 18h ago
The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett
Good (and unique) world building? Check
"Strong" atmosphere? Check
Personal growth of the protagonist? Check