Recommend books on par with Orson Scott Card’s Homecoming Saga

I’m currently rereading Orson Scott Card’s *Homecoming Saga* which is my favorite by him and pretty close to my all-time favorite books ever. I’m rereading it because I am having trouble finding new speculative fiction that I like as much! Help! I’m frustrated that few authors are as deep with their writing, and too many authors seem to try to compensate with excess violence and gore to make up for their overall lack of depth.

I’m looking for insightful authors with deep and intelligent characters, fascinating (fantasy/sci-fi/speculative) worlds, and meaningful storylines.

**My favorites which meet this criteria include:**

* *Scholomance* trilogy by Naomi Novik, as well as her book *Spinning Silver.* I love the blend of adventure, romance, hard truths, personal economy (whether it’s mastering personal finance or mana or both), plot twists, character growth, and satisfying endings. I could do with a less (or preferably no) graphically depicted horror-like scenes, but she redeems this unpleasantness with meaningful substance worth contemplating and sharing.
* *When Women Were Warriors* trilogy by Catherine Wilson. This and the above by Naomi Novik are the only fantasy novels that I’ve read that I felt were on par with the best of Orson Scott Card*.* Catherine’s *When Women Were Warriors* trilogy is a remarkable work of scene-after-scene of happy-tears-inducing beauty. I can’t think of anything else where I’ve cried happy tears not just once, but literally dozens of times – even on my third time re-reading the series! Richard Bach’s *The Bridge Across Forever* also compares in quality, but it’s not a fantasy novel and has a very different vibe.
* *Homecoming Saga* (five books) by Orson Scott Card and his *Alvin Maker* series and *Pathfinder* trilogy. I also read all of *Enderverse*, but I thought that wasn’t actually his best work even if *Ender’s Game* is his most famous.
* *The Slow Regard of Silent Things* by Patrick Rothfuss. This was amazing, poetic, and stunningly beautiful, but too short and unfinished. I could have easily read a trilogy of 300,000 word books like this!
* *Mistborn Saga* by Brandon Sanderson. I prefer less action/violence, but enjoyed this anyway as the overall storylines and character development compensated. I particularly like how the latest book in this saga, *The Lost Metal,* brought so much together and ended so satisfyingly.
* Jo Graham’s *Numinous World* series which includes (my favorites) *Hand of Isis, The General’s Mistress,* and (the novella) *Cythera.* While not as profound at the “large scale” perspective of society as Orson Scott Card, Jo Graham writes interpersonal development beautifully, from romance, to nitty-gritty daily relationships, to break-ups, to polyamory, to loyalty, to sisterhood, friendship, and guardianship – she is a mastercrafter of how hearts weave together! This one is technically historical fiction rather than fantasy, but it *reads like fantasy* if that makes sense; it has that vibe I’m seeking.

Let me know which of the above you’ve read and how you feel your suggestions compare! Looking forward to your suggestions!

**Here are some counterexamples / good-but-not-quite-it examples:**

* I like *Discworld*, but it’s a little too “all over the place” to feel satisfying to me. I like stories to be more strongly character-driven, even if its several characters. I did really like *Equal Rites* and *Small Gods* though.
* I’ve found Karen Miller to be a very talented author – the *Godspeaker* Trilogy is impressive – but her writing was too dark, depressing, and gory for me.
* I enjoyed *Stranger in a Strange Land* and would enjoy reading more like it, but there wasn’t much by way of true character growth – more like a carousel of interesting events and concepts put together in a mural.
* Lois McMaster Bujold’s *Vorkosigan Saga* has a protagonist that is too impulsive and annoying, and while much of the storyline is funny and engaging, none of the characters strike me as wise or all that deep. This is somewhat baffling because the same author wrote *The Sharing Knife* which was almost (but not quite) good enough to be in the above list – similar to Jo Graham’s writing in that it is primarily a romance, but with an engaging setting (although Jo’s writing has much more evolved and interesting other plots woven around the romance).
* Carol Berg’s *Lighthouse Duet* eventually comes to a satisfying ending, and it’s full of fascinating world-building along the way. The plot twists are amazing. The main character is relatable and easy to empathize with, and he’s interesting and tortured. But ultimately Carol Berg’s writing generally likes to drag readers through multiple consecutive chapters bleak, hopeless misery (similar to Karen Millar). I read almost all of Carol’s books in my late teens, and the *Lighthouse Duet* was the best of them – and very beautifully, poetically written too – but still too dark, particularly for the level of satisfaction in it. More satisfying stories are easier to forgive for some darkness.
* I enjoy Steven Brust’s *Vlad* series. It’s witty, fun, adventurous, character-driven, and full of interesting plot twists. The setting is great, and the narrative is easy to consume. Occasionally it’s deep. But overall it’s not deep enough to feel all that fulfilling. It’s good enough though that I will happily continue to read all of Steven’s work in this setting, however!

Hit me with those suggestions and your introspections!

by Raederle-Phoenix