I dislike fantasy but want to push my boundaries

[Anonymous]

As we age opening our minds to new things to help keep us younger (or something lol)

I prefer realistic character driven fiction.

I really would like to open my mind but can’t deal a with a plot in a rich world like Harry Potter.

Any suggestions? I was wondering if maybe YA sci fi/ya fantasy is way to go.

[Anonymous]

Read wings of fire

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read wings of fire

This is what I was going to say

[Anonymous]

Interesting! I may have a suggestion but first of all want to know what you mean by “fantasy” and why you don’t like a “plot rich world”?

[Anonymous]

How about the Dresden File series by Jim Butcher or Daniel Faust series by Craig Schafer? Urban fantasy so more realistic - set in "our world" with magic

[Anonymous]

House on the Cerulean Sea

[Anonymous]

There us a huge range of fantasy. "Urban fantasy" tends to be set in our world, but with magic of some kind.

There is also plenty of more "literary" character-driven fantasy: look for Robin Hobb, Lois McMaster Bujold, Guy Gabriel Kay, Susanna Clarke, Martha Wells's Raksura novels, Robin McKinley, Katherine Arden's Winterlight trilogy, Naomi Novik's Uprooted or Spinning Silver, or Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea novels. Her novel Lavinia is also lovely.

[Anonymous]

People had mixed reactions to it but I really liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Quentin felt more realistic than a lot of fantasy protagonists.

[Anonymous]

I also don’t like fantasy. I really enjoyed Yangsze Choo’s books because they are fantasy but rooted in historical fiction. Very fun reads.

[Anonymous]

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. Closer to magical realism than the dark fantasy of her other books but still with a very gripping plot.

[Anonymous]

Remarkably Bright Creatures

[Anonymous]

Maybe try small with a YA series, recommend Cassandra Clare.

[Anonymous]

The Crane Husband
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Starter Villain (more sci-fi)
The Night Circus
The Bear and the Nightingale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People had mixed reactions to it but I really liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Quentin felt more realistic than a lot of fantasy protagonists.

I LOVED this series. The Bright Sword by Grossman is also very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People had mixed reactions to it but I really liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Quentin felt more realistic than a lot of fantasy protagonists.

Hah, I agree with you but found him realistically irritating. We all know a guy like Quentin.

I liked the book and agree it's a good pick for OP. So is Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, and Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.