Hello all,
I just finished listening to the most recent of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising books and want to find another series to listen to.
I’d like it to either be first person view or 3rd person close, where you hear the thoughts/feelings of the character whose focus the story is being told through.
I’d gotten Michael J. Sullivan’s Theft of Swords to listen to next but it’s 3rd person limited/far and the lack of getting the characters’ feelings/thoughts being conveyed has made it hard for me to get into.
Books/Series/Authors I like:
Robin Hobb
George RR Martin
Pierce Brown
Naomi Novak
Joe Abercrombie
Orson Scott Card
Kurt Vonnegut
Anything similar to those authors would be great. I prefer stuff written for adults. I also tend to get turned off by worlds that are super fantastic (mages and magic everywhere often with heroes whose names all start will K,Z,J,V and a hyphen or two(Jvak-Thuz, master of the arcane forms of Zillow-Vakuth, was a wanted man… Nothing like that.).
I’ve tried and didn’t like Sullivan’s Riyera, Lies of Locke LeMora book, any Brian Sanderson, Mistborn, Calderon, Gardens of the Moon series.
Already read: Tad Williams, Eye of the World Series, Name of the Wind, Dark Tower, Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, and many more that aren’t coming to mind.
Any suggestions anyone can think of that fits what I’ve mentioned will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and have a great day!!!
by Hunter328
19 Comments
Chronicles of Amber series, Roger Zelazny. Magic, but not sorcery, if that makes any sense.
Martha Wells’ *Murderbot Diaries* series of sci-fi novellas checks your boxes. It follows a cyborg that hires out as security to humans at the edge of the galaxy. It’s not comfortable dealing with humans and doesn’t really understand them. Action-oriented, fast paced, it also displays a wickedly dry sense of humor.
The first one is **All Systems Red**
~~RED RISING IT HAS TO BE RED RISING YOU ARE A PERFECT FIT FOR RED RISING.~~
~~Emotional Trauma on par with George RR Martin. First book is slower and probably the worst one but is quite short, I can assure you though it gets SIGNIFICANTLY better after it.~~
I can’t read.
The Wheel of Time, Jordan
Berserker, Saberhagen
Alvin Maker, Card is lesser known.
Pern, McCaffrey
Elenium/ Tamuli, Eddings
[The Timekeeper’s Conspiracy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08769MR4D/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1696515435&sr=8-1)
The Dresden Files is fantastic.
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is also great. There’s a sequel to that one but I have not read it yet.
Malazan Book of the Fallen.
Ten book series, I reckon you may want to start with the second book, dead house gates, but you can also start from the first one.
Very much the least tropey of all the series I’ve read. Takes a hard look at civilization vs the noble savage, compassion, the viewpoint of soldiers at war, tradition, and a lot more. The author is an anthropologist so you can definitely see a lot of that in the story.
The expanse series by James s a Corey. Sci fi that’s pretty down to earth considering it’s about conflicts in space. 1 of the 2 authors I think used to be George r r martins assistant or something, and I can see the influence
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld is the best series ever. I usually recommend starting with Small Gods. The first few books are very raw and not great. Even Pratchett recommends starting elsewhere. The books work as standalone stories. Small Gods is completely standalone, though, so you won’t miss anything starting there.
ROGER ZELAZNY’S THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER SERIES. It revolves around a royal family with the power to move between different worlds and realities, even reaching modern Earth. The heart of the series lies in the power struggles and intrigues among the royal siblings vying for the throne.
STEVEN BRUST’S VLAD TALTOS SERIES. It follows the protagonist Vladmir Taltos who starts as an assassin and minor crime boss, a despised normal human in an Empire of tall highly powerful peoples where magical resurrection is a relatively common but expensive procedure. And some, teleportation and psionic communication which resemble modern texting and cell phone usage, forming the core elements of sorcery or witchcraft in this world. It feels like Sopranos story with some sorcery and witchcraft but nothing like master of the arcane sort of thing.
If you haven’t checked out URSULA K. LE GUIN yet, you should give THE HAINISH CYCLE a shot. It’s a captivating journey through a variety of intriguing worlds, with a touch of philosophical exploration. Each book offers a fresh perspective on society, culture, and the essence of being human.
You might want to check out GENE WOLFE as well. Although I haven’t read any of his works yet, his name often comes up in these kinds of discussions. His New Sun series is on my TBR, and I’m looking forward to read it soon.
Cradle series by Will Wight
Bloodsworn Trilogy by John Gwynne
Night Angel Series by Brent Weeks
Firewall Trilogy by James Maxwell
Evermen Saga by James Maxwell
Maybe those will tickle your fancy. Based on your notes I think Bloodsworn might be your jam.
The Stormlight Series! Written by Brandon Sanderson who I believe finished The Wheel of Time. Very captivating and detailed.
Also the Sword of Truth series is fun. There are some really great books and a few so so books in the series.
Book of the New Sun series by Gene Wolfe
Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga. Elizabeth Moon and Tanya Huff’s military science fiction.
Have you done the Old Man’s War series?
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews is excellent. Over 10 books and lots of short stories, plus two offshoots from the world. Kate is a sword wielding badass who lives in Atlanta Georgia. Magic has crashed back into the world, sometimes there is tech so guns shoot and sometimes it’s magic and they don’t, but a sword works all the time.
Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams, starts with *The Ninth Rain*
Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett, starts with *City of Stairs*
For some fantasy I’d suggest:
Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist
Elenium by David Eddings
16 Ways to Defend a Walled City by KJ Parker
Masters and Mages by Miles Cameron
Covenant of Steel by Anthony Ryan
As to Sci-Fi I’d suggest the following:
Necromancer by William Gibson
Scattered Stars:Conviction by Glynn Stewart
Starships Mage by Glynn Stewart
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
Wow, thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. Now I just have to pick one. Usually I’d go for one that a bunch of people mentioned but everyone offered up pretty unique suggestions. Lots to choose from!!!
Thanks again!!!