Favourite fantasy authors?

Well... have just finished reading the two Jennifer Fallon trilogies I'd bought. The one that was written first is actually set at a time after the last of her trilogies. I've honestly got to say that it was a little disappointing as the characters you get to know so well in the Hythrun trilogy are very flat and one-dimensional in the Demon Child trilogy. But, I'm glad I read them in the order that I did, otherwise knowing where they all end up would seriously kill the ability to enjoy the Hythrun trilogy for me.

I'm know starting on Glenda Larke - still a bit early to know whether I really enjoy her style, but it's certainly something a little bit different, which is usually what I'm looking for when I pick up a new author.

As for Robert Jordan - AAAARRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! I'm glad I stopped reading TWOT ages ago in order to wait for it to be complete and then start over. I guess now I just won't bother. Unless he's got enough notes left for someone else to be able to pick it up and finish it off for us.

BW

I read heaps of fantasy books when I was younger... somehow I got out of the habit of reading over the last decade or so. But, my favourite series was the eight-part 'Chronicles of the Cheysuli', by Jennifer Roberson. Mind you, that was a while ago.

In more recent years, the Pratchett books have been winners. Funny stuff.

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I brought the first book in Robin Hobb's Soldier's Son Trilogy today.
Can't wait to start reading it, as I've mentioned I've really loved all of her other trilogies.
Will let you know if it's any good

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Well I am totally engrossed in my new book, I highly recommend you give it a go when you get a chance.
I'm almost done with it, going out to buy book 2 today.

..Laura

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But, my favourite series was the eight-part 'Chronicles of the Cheysuli', by Jennifer Roberson. Mind you, that was a while ago.

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Ooh I started reading this series when I was 17, my then boyfriend was just starting to buy them. For the life of me I just could not remember the name of the series or the author, so now I know I can go out and find them.

Astrid, you're the first person I've come across who's even heard of the series! Probably sounds silly, but I was so chuffed to read your post. :)

I just finished "the confesor" by terry goodkind. Loved it.
It is so sad to come to the end of a series. does anyone else get that empty feeling after coming to the end of a series?
I must look back over this thread and find a new series to get started on.

Rufalina, I get very depressed at the end of a series. I just get so attached to the characters that I get really sad to know that I will spend no more time with them. :(

I've just been out feeding my book addiction before coming home from work today... Some good news - Isobelle Carmody has finally got her act together and finished book 5 of the Obernewtyn series. The bad news - There's going to be a book 6. It's only out (as far as I could see, anyway) in the giant paperback size - which I hate! I wait for them to come out in the proper sized paperbacks.

And another thing which may be worth nothing - Dymocks is currently having a 3 for the price of 2 deal on the books in the top 100 list. I just picked up all 5 books in the Belgariad (David Eddings), and grabbed The Magician (Feist) because it was free when I bought all the others and it was probably the one fantasy novel on the list that I didn't already own!

Still progressing with Glenda Larke, so no idea when I'll ever get around to starting on Feist, but I have to say that I'm really enjoying her work! Another Australian female fantasy author I can highly recommend.

BW

BIL bought me Armageddons Children (Terry Brooks) for Christmas and I just read it last weekend, its the first Terry Brooks that I've read and I loved it. Its the first book I've read in a while, and I raced out to buy the second book in the series yesterday. Its supposed to be a trilogy but so far I'm wondering how it will be wound up in only 3 books.

I noticed today at the airport that Feist has a new book out on his latest series.
I hope it was lol, I didn't have a chance to stop and have a proper look.
It should be book three, I can't think of the name off hand.
have to add it to the list of things to read.

unfortunately for me I've started at Uni doing a Masters degree so reading has been limited to text books in the last couple weeks.


..Laura

edit: I had to google as it was driving me nuts that I couldn't remember the title. Its "Wrath of a Mad God" Book 3 of the Dark War Saga.

Thanks for the update, I have been hanging out for that one!

After saying I haven't been reading much, I've just finished reading (in the last 3 days hehe) Winterbirth by Brain Ruckley.

It's a pretty good read, a bit slow going in the first 50 or so pages, alot of story setting up and religious dogma to get sorted but it really comes together in the end.
Series is very promising and may even be as good as Fiest or George RR Martin. His writing style is very different to them both though.

Book 2 Bloodheir is out June/July so I am adding it on my list of things to read.

*Two Thumbs Up*

..Laura

Woweee - I just finished the Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb!

Loved it every bit as much as The Liveship and The Farseer trilogies too. I'm a bit sad, I'm going to miss everybody.....

I felt exactly the same Lulu.
Very sad to say good bye to them all.

I've started on Soldier Son Series by Hobb now though and that is just as good!

..Laura

I have just finished reading the Glory Isles trilogy by Glenda Larke - another great read.

I was about to say that it seems that I'm going to love every fantasy series written by a woman, but then I remembered the long hard slog through Cecilia Dart-Thornton's work, and ugh! Never again!

I'm about to start on the Trinity series from Fiona McIntosh - anyone else read it? I still have so many books here that I haven't read yet - So many books, so little time!

BW

Lulu, I've just finished re-reading the Farseer Assasin series & the Tawny Man series...I understand your sadness...I wish Robin Hobb would write a series about the Fool but then I guess I dont want to really want to know the enigma that is the fool. His / her unknowingness is what makes him so lovable & so interesting. It took me this second read to really understand Fitz's motivation in staying loyal to the Farseer throne - I always found his loyalty a weakness before but this time I got it.

I haven't been able to get through the second book of Hobb's Forrest Mage series though, too different and just not doing it for me.

I love the Magician too, but by the time I got through most of the series - Silverthorn, Darkness at Arathorn I was a bit over it. I then went onto the Daughter of the Empire series by Fiest and I can't remember who - and though it was good, its not a series that I will ever re-read.

I guess I'm not such a big fan of sci-fi either but there have been a couple that I have read recently that I have absolutely enjoyed. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman and Gateway by Frederick Pohl. I read them out of the blue without expectations and felt I had discovered something special so if you want to try something a little different then give these 2 a go.

My absolute favourites would have to be the 'Seventh Swordsman' series by Dave Duncan and 'Pawn's Dream' by Eric Nyland.

My hubby has some of the authors that others have recommended on the overflowing bookshelf - I would love a library - one day! and I guess now I have no excuse but to pick them up and have a read...

Butterfly, I could have written your first post myself! And I prefer trilogies over stand alones also.

Have to say, my all time fav author is Juliet Marillier and her Sevenwaters trilogy was her first and best work. The first book in that trilogy is Daughter of the Forest, and it is absolutely fantastic.

Also love Sara Douglass' Troy Game series

Yay for whole new worlds and a bit of magic :)

OMG LOVE Robin Hobb!! genius! liveships are my favourite trilogy, if i had to pick but poor fitz what a life of tragedy! love em all.

did you know that she writes under the name 'megan lindolm (sp)' as well. there are a few other books under this name that are really good too! :-)

i have tried to read the 'magician' a few times but just cant get into it properly.

Hollo it's well worth the effort of reading the magician.

Feist newest book has been released: Rides a Dread Legion

Hoping I find the time sometime this year to read it lol.

I have just finished the Eragon trilogy,. only to find, halfway through the last book, that is it now a series (4th book still being written). It is ok for a bunch of books written by a teenager... Christopher Paolini ...

I enjoyed Eragon and Eldest alot. I thought Brisingr was a bit.. fillerish? It kind of felt like he was adding in all these extra bits to extend the story somehow.

Loving this tread ladies. I have to get myself to a book shop quick!!!

Another author I would suggest is Ann Bishop. I'm pretty sure she's an Aussie, and fairly new to the fantasy writing, but she has 2 trilogies out (The worlds of the Fae and the Realms of the Blood), both EXCELLANT reads. I have read them both many times, and even knowing how it ends, I can't put them down.

Just subscribing because I am a fantasy nut and want to look at this thread properly before I next visit the library.

Can I put in a million votes for Sara Douglass? I've loved all her books, although the Timekeeper series was a bit creepy.

Currently re-reading the Magician series by Feist....how can you go past it, really?

Sara Douglass is amazing.

And yeah Timekeepers is kinda.. creepy hehe.

have you read her DarkGlass Mountain stuff?


Also if you like her, you might like Jennifer Fallon?

Oh I loved the darkglass mountain books, and thankfully Sara is finally in remission from her cancer, and might think about starting to write again some time soon, which might mean we can get the third book...

Im so glad to hear that! I'd been waiting to hear something from her. She's such a strong woman.

I had no idea she had cancer! Completely selfishly I am very glad she is in remission!

I've enjoyed the Darkglass Mountain books. I don'd mind having to wait for the next installment because each time a new one comes out I get to read the preceding books again to "refresh my memory"!!