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I have three epic reads to recommend if you like reading high fantasy—or if you’re like me and read an eclectic mix of genres. If you want to give epic fantasy a try for the first time, I personally, think these books are easy to get into. Mini book reviews for my recommendations are provided, too :) I hope you’ll give them a try if they’re not already on your TBR.
Favourite Standalone
The Priory of The Orange Tree
Samantha Shannon (2019)
ADULT FANTASY
This book was as stunning as its cover. Beautiful writing, a gripping story, a big cast of intriguing characters, a HUGE world. A grown up fantasy for the sophisticated reader. I enjoyed it so much. It’s a standalone, but I wouldn’t be surprised—in fact, I’d be very happy—if the author announced a sequel or a companion novel in the future. This epic world has SO MUCH potential. Samantha Shannon’s other series is going on my TBR.
>>Amazon Link<<
Favourite Series
Throne of Glass Series
Sarah J Maas (2012-2018)
YA/NA CROSS-OVER
This seven-book series is one hell of a ride. Ten years in the making and it shows. You can see on the page all the love and care that Sarah J Maas put into her characters and this world. Book 1 foreshadowed a lot of the themes in Book 7—that tells you she knew exactly what she was doing from the start.
Personally, my favourites in this series were Book 4 (Queen of Shadows) and Book 5 (Empire of Storms). I loved every chapter in EoS, every story arc, every character—the supporting cast more so in this book than the lead protagonist (even though she is one of my favourite female fiction characters ever)—every thing.
My favourite thing about SJM is how she really takes the time and makes the effort to develop her supporting cast. They have interesting pasts and grow and change and really influence the story line, driving it forward just as much as the protagonist does. In EoS in particular, I think SJM did a brilliant job with the peripheral characters, all having a role to play and pushing the story forward. I didn't once find myself skimming through sections that were from the supporting cast's POV, which sometimes can happen if the sub-plots and peripheral characters aren't interesting enough.
>>Amazon Link<<
Favourite Book
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thrones and Roses #2)
Sarah J Maas (2016)
NA/ADULT CROSS-OVER
I love this book more than all the books in the ToG series and more than The Priory of the Orange Tree—so I guess I have to recommend the ACOTAR series, too. Why isn’t this series my favourite series, though? The first book and the final one in the series were 3-star reads for me, whereas all the books in the ToG series were 4- and 5-star reads, so that’s why ToG won that race. But the ACOTAR trilogy is worth reading just for the second book in the series—it’s that good.
ACOMAF had everything I wanted it to have and more. The writing, pacing, romance, action, humour, all of it was excellent. I enjoyed it even more when I re-read it. Plus, it won a Goodreads Choice Award, too.
>>Amazon Link<<
There you go. My high fantasy book recommendations. I hope you’ll give them a try if epic fantasy is your jam :)
My Heir to the Throne Trilogy (“Throne of Glass with mermaids-ish”) is available at the below retailers:
