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T Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel books are a little heavier on the romance plot (although I’d classify them as fantasy with some horror elements what with the severed heads, bear fights, and generally high corpse count) but the Clocktower Duology (The Clockwork Boys, The Wonder Engine) is a lot lighter on romance. Lots of guy fantasy readers like them.
Kingfisher also has some straight horror (The Hollow Places, What Moves the Dead, A House With Good Bones) with no romance at all. They’re clever and have some funny moments. The Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold is a great suggestion. The Curse of Chalion is a fantasy by the same author with an amazing blend of world building and plot. One of my favorite main characters ever. It gets dark but is ultimately such a hopeful book. |
^^PP here. I also highly recommend the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. They're FABULOUS! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32758901-all-systems-red The Confederation of Valor series by Tanya Huff is also exceptional. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/772606.Valor_s_Choice |
I was posting to suggest Scalzi. I enjoyed starter villain as well as the Kaiju preservation society. And to echo another poster - really hope you all have worked through Hitchkhikers guide to the Galaxy. Classic. |
| Murderbot is a great suggestion! |
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A third rec for Vorkosigan but for a 20yo I'd suggest starting with The Warriors Apprentice (main character Miles is a 17yo boy who is the lead in most of the rest of the series), and not Shards of Honor (takes place earlier, about Miles' middle-aged parents, and it's less funny, more drama/romance).
True comedy, definitely Pratchett but again, don't start at the beginning - "Guard! Guards!" is a good one. I loved Mistborn but it's not really funny - Sanderson has several series that are better for comedy - The Reckoners, or Alcatraz (but Alcatraz is technically aimed at younger readers). |
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There are a lot of great suggestions here.
I also enjoyed the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor. It’s not exactly funny, but an easy read. |
Another vote for all these. And I'll include "How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying" by Django Wexler. Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy in Django Wexler’s laugh-out-loud fantasy tale about a young woman who, tired of defending humanity from the Dark Lord, decides to become the Dark Lord herself. Amazing and funny. |