I love fantasy books. I love being brought into a new world that I get to explore, that has its own rules, that plays with various races and species. I like journeys, where a fellowship comes together to save their world. I like personal growth, characters who learn their place in their world with the help of others. And I like the creative ways authors come up with fresh ideas to deal with classic races, monsters, and animals, and in creating new ones.
The problem is, well, sometimes I don't need that world to go on and on and on and on and on...
I totally understand why large and long fantasy series are written. Fantasy is a great place to escape, especially when you're reading about an entire new world. There are always a lot of interesting characters, and many authors and readers want those characters explored even more.
I am fascinated when an author can create an entire world where you walk away from it remembering all the rules and the nuances of that world. I found that was very true for me with the Harry Potter novels and the films. I'm currently reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series, aka Game of Thrones. The show had the same impact on me that Harry Potter had, but a different type of fantasy. So far, it's good and is exactly like the show, but I'm only on the first novel. I'm quite disappointed that George R.R. Martin's probably not going to finish it, but I am so curious about a lot of the characters, as I've always been told that some of them were changed quite a bit for the show.
But when we start getting into six, seven, ten, twenty books in a series, and it just goes on and on and on and on with no end in sight, well, that can just get really tedious to me. For example, the Xanth novels by Piers Anthony were a lot of fun, but puns get weary after a while. I think I stopped reading at the ninth book--I just was finished with all of it. I also could not get through even the first three books of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, and I think I only read one Robert Jordan Wheel of Time book and said nope, not for me. I've read some of the EarthSea novels (Ursula K. LeGuin) and the Pern novels (Anne McCaffrey)... but honestly, I got bored. I like both ladies' shorter work and single novels much better.
I guess I like an end to what I'm reading, and I don't want that ending to take me years to get to it. I tend to be a bit forgetful as to what I have read unless the story/novel has an incredibly strong impact on me. I find that trilogies and quadrilogies tend to be the best length for me. It seems to be the best way to tell a story, to get things on the page in a concise package, and it doesn't drag your reader along with the chance of forgetting key plot points and important characters.
Of course, this doesn't mean Dark Owl won't publish any epic fantasy novel series--far from it. If readers want more, and the author wants to write more, I'm happy to give it to them! So far, I may have the chance with an upcoming novel by a fantasy comedy author, so be sure to follow us on social media to find out who and what!
However, I figure there are people out there like me, that just aren't as into long book series but still like a sold fantasy story. So, here's a short (see what I did there?) list of fantasy novel series for people who don't like fantasy novel series. Please note that these are the ones I personally have read, and they're the ones that had the most impact on me.
The Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb
Do you love dragons? Then you'll love these books. In this world, there used to be a bond between dragons and Traders, with the powerful dragon Tintaglia no longer helping the Traders who have forgotten their duties to care for dragons. When seven dragons are born that are sickly and violent towards the Traders, it is decided that they must be taken to their homeland Kelsingra, escorted by selected Traders who will become their keepers. I honestly still think about these books from time to time. I love how Hobb handles the dragons and their relationship with the people they are bonding to. The journey itself is harrowing, but it has a beautiful resolution that is very effective. These books are also intertwined with a lot of Hobb's other works, like the Liveship Traders Trilogy and The Farseer Trilogy. But each series of books stands alone, so you don't have to read every single book in order to understand the whole story. I really appreciate that about Hobb's choices in how she writes her books. And she is lovely to meet in person, too! Check out her website here.
The Firebringer Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce
I am a massive fan of unicorns. They've always been my favorite fantasy animals. As a girl, I had a lot of stuffed and porcelain unicorns that adorned my room. I found Birth of the Firebringer in a bookstore as a kid, and I have read it over and over and over again. The book is from the unicorns' point of view, and involves their mythology, their way of life, their traditions and views of the world. That's what I truly love about it--it echoes one of my very favorite novels, Black Beauty, in giving us the animal's point of view. While this series is technically for YA readers, my opinion of the book hasn't changed as I've reread it over the years. Some books still feel very "kiddish" when you read them again as an adult, and Birth of the Firebringer doesn't. It still holds it's own weight and truths to the world Pierce has created. And interestingly, it wasn't until I was an adult that I learned there is an entire trilogy. I was quite excited to find the other books and read them, too, and they were just as good quality as the first book.
The Hurog Duology by Patricia Briggs
Patricia Briggs is most well known for the Mercy Thompson novels, an extensive series of urban fantasy involving shape shifters and other fantasy creatures. I liked the first few Mercy books, so I started looking for more of Briggs's work. Her standalone novels--especially The Hob's Bargain and Steal the Dragon--are honestly a lot of fun, turning classic fantasy tropes of the damsel in distress or the magical curse on their heads. So I was thrilled to find this duology about Ward of Hurog. Ward isn't the smartest tack in the toolbox, but he is of good character, and he knows that someone trying to take over Hurog, the kingdom his father left him, isn't right. It also turns out he has dragon's blood in his veins, so he's actually more powerful than he realizes. I don't think I've ever encountered a story like Ward's before, so it was really fun to be carried along in a story that was completely new to me, and I had no idea where it was going to go. I plan to read more of Briggs's novels as she has another duology and some novels that are woven together but aren't necessarily a series. They are certainly the kind of stories that work for me. Check out her website here.
The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
I first read The Dark is Rising when I was in middle school, and I'm sure you can see that this is a series designed for middle school and YA readers. But that's actually one reason why I'm including it here. It's an extremely good series, but it's also quick and easy to read. It's based in classic tropes of fantasy: a young boy from our world who is blessed with magic powers must find a golden grail, stolen by the evil Dark who will use it to take over the world. The entire series revolves around his adventures with other children who are drawn into the world. It also has some of the same themes as the King Author myths, though you don't have to have read them to understand the novels. I think this is a great way to enjoy some classic fantasy while it being easy and quick to read.
The Six of Crows Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
It's as bit of an odd story as to how I came across Six of Crows. I took a three-hour drive to a town to pick up my new puppy--the breeder was coming through Arizona, and they offered to deliver her to me. They were extremely late in showing up, so I needed to find something to do while waiting. I went to Target and this book was on the shelf. The cover, book design, and description really intrigued me, and before I knew it, I'd read about four chapters. I haven't read the sequel yet, and there is supposed to be one more book. But what really intrigues me about this trilogy is the fascinating and unusual cast of characters. The story revolves around a group of criminals that are being hired for a heist that could risk their lives. Each character is completely unique with his/her own unique set of skills and morals. That's what drives the story: characters that must come together in a world of magic and intrigue to reach a common goal. I think the preface is new and fresh, something we haven't really seen before. So I think anyone who wants to find something other than the classic fantasy tropes will enjoy this series.
The Books of Abarat by Clive Barker
Barker is of course known for his incredible talent at creating extreme horror. I honestly love his horror novels, and one reason is because of the gorgeous imagery that he paints in my mind. That actually translates to his real life talent as a painter and artist. In 1995, he started a series of whimsical characters and landscapes that were brightly colored and, to him, had strong personalities. He decided those paintings told a story, and he wrote it down. The Abarat Series is the result. It is a series intended for young adults, but I honestly found them to be mesmerizing and beautiful and perfectly suitable for adults. There are supposed to be five books, but only three are currently in print. Due to Barker's illnesses, he may not be able to finish the other two. But I still recommend this series, where a young girl is thrust into another world that is organized into twenty-four islands that represent the twenty-four hours in a day. I highly recommending finding the hardbacks rather than the paperbacks. The full-color images are so important to the story, you must experience them in their glory.
Finally, here's a list of short book series that I haven't read, but others might very much enjoy. I compiled them from this fabulous list: 100 Best Fantasy Series Ever. It's a great list in general and includes lots of classics alongside modern works, so I'm sure you'll find something fun to read here!
The Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud (trilogy)
The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan
The Boreal Moon Tale by Julian May (trilogy)
The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
The Coldfire Trilogy by Celia S. Friedman (or C.S. Friedman)
The Dagger and the Coin Series by Daniel Abraham (pentalogy)
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon (trilogy)
The Dreamblood Duology by N.K. Jemisin
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
The First Law by Joe Abercrombie (trilogy)
The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay (trilogy)
The Folk of the Air by Holly Black (trilogy)
The Gormenghast Series by Mervyn Peake (trilogy)
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (the Golden Compass trilogy)
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (the Eragon quadrilogy)
The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Joe Pitt Casebooks by Charlie Huston (quadrilogy)
The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (trilogy)
Kan Savasci Cycle by Chase Blackwood (trilogy)
Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix (Septology, but the concept is based on the seven days of the week, which has attracted me to it.)
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss (Two books so far, but a third and final book is forthcoming.)
Legacy of Orisha by Tomi Adeyemi (Two books so far, but a third and final book is forthcoming.)
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Read The Hobbit first!)
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (quadrilogy)
The Lyonesse Trilogy by Jack Vance
Magic ex Libris by Jim C. Hines (quadrilogy)
The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman (quadrilogy)
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams (trilogy)
The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black (trilogy)
Monarchies of God by Paul Kearney (pentalogy)
The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
The Oath of Empire Series by Thomas Harlan (quadrilogy)
Phedre Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey
The Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (quadrilogy)
Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard (quadrilogy)
Riddle-Master Series by Patricia A. McKillip (trilogy)
Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurtz
Saga of Recluse by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (quadrilogy)
The Prince of Nothing Series by R. Scott Bakker (trilogy)
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab (trilogy)
Shadowmarch by Tad Williams (quadrilogy)
The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce (quadrilogy)
The Swan's War by Sean Russell (trilogy)
Sword of Shadows by J.V. Jones (quadrilogy)
Theatre Illuminata by Lisa Mantchev (trilogy)
The Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron (quadrilogy)
~ Andrea Thomas
Image of Hurog Duology from Sand Image Books.
All other images were from various websites and had no specific origin.
All covers copyright their respective designers and artists.
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