or the entirety of my life, I’ve always been attracted to fantasy novels. You may have missed the blog I wrote about why I got into this genre, but this month I wanted to share with you the fantasy authors that I couldn’t live without.
Now, these are just my opinion, and they’re the books that I go back to time and time again. Each author has made their own mark on my writing life, and if you’ve never read any of their novels before, then hopefully this will give you some inspiration.
Brandon Sanderson
Ever since I first discovered The Final Empire, I’ve devoured every novel that Sanderson has published. I’ve always loved reading epic fantasy novels and the way that Sanderson writes has given me so much inspiration for my own work.
From the first page, you’re thrown into a world of injustice, internal struggles and the fight against unjust regimes. The only regrets I have with Sanderson is that I finish his books too quickly!
The thing I loved most about the Mistborn trilogy is that it made me wonder how I would react in the situations the main characters found themselves in. Would I be as daring as Kelsier, would I distrust as much as Vin or would I act much the same as Spook? Have a read and decide for yourself.
Books I love and recommend:
- The Mistborn Original Trilogy (namely The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages)
- The Reckoners Trilogy (Steelheart, Firefight, Calamity)
Unpopular opinion alert, sorry! I did enjoy books four to six (the Wax and Wayne series) but I didn’t enjoy them as much as the original three. The world building was still spectacular, but I preferred the first introductions to Luthadel, the Lord Ruler, Mistings and Mistborn in the original trilogy.
I’m currently halfway through The Way of Kings, based on some recommendations from some friends, so I’ll make sure to keep you updated on the progress in my August monthly round up.
Karen Miller
The first books I was introduced to from Karen Miller were The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage, the first two in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker universe. What I enjoyed most about The Innocent Mage was the relationship developing between the main protagonists Asher and Gar.
To be honest, I sided with Asher for most of the novel, fully taken into his way of thinking, especially when he starts to evolve and grow as a person. I don’t want to give too much away, but much the same as Sanderson, I wish could slow down when reading Miller’s novels. Alas, no such luck!
The world she’s created is filled with conflict, intrigue and if I’m honest, I could imagine that the plot would play out in exactly the same way if we were living it for ourselves.
Books I love and recommend:
- The Innocent Mage, The Awakened Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series)
- A Blight of Mages
- The Prodigal Mage, The Reluctant Mage (Fisherman’s Children series)
Last but by no means least [edited, end of 2022]
Update – end of 2022 – this was dedicated to the Harry Potter series, but since everything’s happened, this has now been removed.
Please respect and understand the reasons why, even if you don’t agree. Comments about this will not be replied to.
So there you have it, the fantasy authors I always turn to if I haven’t got a new novel to read or I fancy visiting a familiar world I’d never want to forget. What do you think? Who are the authors that you always turn to?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, so make sure you let me know in the comments below. Alternatively, reach out and connect to me on Twitter and Instagram, I’m always looking for more readers to build a community with.
If you’re planning your own novel or simply want to find out about my writing process, you can take a look at the tools I always turn to when I’m looking to increase my productivity.
Speak to you soon!
