So, for christmas I got a barnes & nobles gift card and I really want to go in there knowing what I want to buy.
As far as previously read books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, I really have to say my favorites so far has been The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass, and The Lord of The Rings. As well as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'll admit, I'm sort of picky, I really do enjoy some romance in my stories, but not undeveloped, let's just fawn over each other two days after we met. And the more action, the better, I'm all for sword fights and magic, which I guess is implied with fantasy, ha.
Really, I don't know what else to say, just asking for you guys to throw whatever you can think of at me, I'm rather desperate at this point to find something good.
And any help would be much appreciated :]
Comments
Furies of Calderon (series) - Jim Butcher
Elric of Melnibone' (series) - Michael Moorcock
The Belgeriad, The Mallorean, Rise of the Rivan King, The Elenium, The Tamuli (serieses) - David Eddings
The Sword-Edged Blonde - Alex Bledsoe
The Night Angel Trilogy - Brent Weeks
Edited at 2009-12-29 11:44 pm (UTC)
Of the ones already suggested, I heartily recommend Cashore's Graceling & Fire. Also, my very favourite book series is Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn Chronicles, which is kind of a sci-fi/fantasy crossover, with plenty of battles and powers (not quite sword fights and magic but, you know, similar).
Edit: And if you like a load of politics mixed in with your sword fights and magic, you could try the Empire Trilogy by Feist and... okay forgotton the other author, but it's definitely reviewed on my blog.
Edited at 2009-12-29 11:55 pm (UTC)
Also, there was a similar request a few days ago, so if you can find it, you might get some more ideas:)
He's not hard to find outside of Canada; his books hit Borders and Barnes and Noble reliably, and can be found in used bookstores with some regularity.
Her "Tamir" trilogy starts with The Bone Doll's Twin. It is about a princess who is magicked to look like a boy, to protect her from her usurper uncle. The books are somewhat dark in tone, but not grim throughout, and there's plenty of humor. There is a central romance, but it doesn't develop fully until the third book. There's a fair amount of political intrigue, several different types of magic, all of which are well thought out and fairly interesting. All the characters are well defined, and none are cookie-cutter heroes or villains - they all have their own flaws and virtues. Thestrong romance element (perhaps my favorite in any fantasy series) doesn't take over the plot, or get steamrollered by it.
Her Night Runner series is set in the same world, several centuries later. It follows a pair of rogues through various adventures, with much intrigue, magic, and derring do. These books also have a strong central romance between the two main male characters. These books are much lighter in tone than the "Tamir" books(at least the first two), but there are some scenes of torture and other unpleasantness visited upon the characters.
The books in the original trilogy are:
The Daughter of the Blood
Heir to the Shadows
Queen of Darkness
The other ones in the same universe as those books are:
The Invisible Ring
Dreams Made Flesh
Tangled Webs
The Shadow Queen
There is also another book coming out next March that directly follows The Shadow Queen called Shalador's Lady.
And now that I think about it, I really enjoyed all her books so I would also say The Tir Alainn Triolgy (The Pillars of the World, Shadows and Light, and The House of Gaian) and The Landscapes of Emphemera Duology (Sebastian and Belladonna).
Other series sort of along the same lines that I would suggest checking out would be The Death Gate Cylce by Weis and Hickman (I loved the steampunk ideas that are incorporated, still involves some awesome ideas on magic but there's less sword fighting), and The Godspeaker Trilogy by Karen Miller (like all fantasy, some degree of magic but filtered through other means, and lots of sword fighting).
Sorry that this ended up so long :S
Folks here have also been fantastic in providing me with some fantasy recs. Not sure if you have seen it, but here be the post. I've gone to pick up some of the books and they look fantastic!
However, I've read most of it and one that I think you'll really enjoy, Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon. The first three are the best three in the series. The last three are still good but not AS good and there's a definite gap between the two (just like Wafarer.)