Anonymous wrote:OP here and thank you for these recs -- I've written them all down! But a friend just gave me a copy of Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword and now I'm reading that and it's kind of perfect. So add that to anyone's list!

You may like The Magicians trilogy then, as it’s written by Grossman. I really enjoyed it.

FYI The Wheel of Time series as a whole is definitely lighter than GRRM (the main series - not Dunk and Egg). Not hugely lighter, but a whooooole lot less rape, and probably fewer deaths, at least of main characters. Among other things.

OP here and thank you for these recs -- I've written them all down! But a friend just gave me a copy of Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword and now I'm reading that and it's kind of perfect. So add that to anyone's list!

Anonymous wrote:Patrick Rothfuss
Leigh Bardugo
Scott Lynch
Maybe Brandon Sanderon or Maggie Stiefvater

My husband and his family all read George Martin books and are into Brandon Sanderson. Also Red Rising and that series.

New poster who also thinks that Patrick Rothfuss' books are worth a read even if he doesn't finish the story if you love compelling, well-written characters

Joe Abercrombie - The First Law Trilogy - the first book is the Blade Itself. It’s dark, but there’s a lot of humor in it and it has great characters.

If you liked the politics/royal intrigue aspect of GRRM, I also loved Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy. Starts with Assassin’s Apprentice, and also has great characters.

I loved the two Rothfuss books already mentioned, but not sure I’d recommend them since it doesn’t seem like the author is going to finish the series.

Poppy Wars? I add the question mark because I haven’t finished the series so its possible it falls apart later on.

If you are open to historical fiction then read Dorothy Dunnett!

Anonymous wrote:What about something a little different - historical fiction? I love Sharon Kay Penman's books. I'd start with the Welsh trilogy that begins with Here Be Dragons.

That is a good idea. If you groove on the complicated politics of Martin's world, you might also like Dorothy Dunnett's second historical series that starts with Niccolò Rising. It's full of humor and ranges widely around the 15th century world and it's more accessible than her Lymond series.

What about something a little different - historical fiction? I love Sharon Kay Penman's books. I'd start with the Welsh trilogy that begins with Here Be Dragons.

Seconding Patrick Rothfuss, Name of the Wind and its sequel The Wise Man's Fear. (I suspect that like Martin he will never finish the series, but the first two are so good it's worth it anyway.)

I loved The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and the two mysteries set in the same universe, The Witness For The Dead and The Grief Of Stones.

What about the series by C.S Lewis, the Narnia books?

Pillars of the Earth

Patrick Rothfuss
Leigh Bardugo
Scott Lynch
Maybe Brandon Sanderon or Maggie Stiefvater

I really enjoyed them especially the Song of Ice and Fire and the Dunk and Egg stories.

I have already read all the Lord of the Rings (and the Hobbit) and the first of the Wheel of Time series. I am considering reading the second book in the Wheel of Time but am now spoiled by all the humor and lightness in GRRM and I think that might be heavier than I want.

Any suggestions from people who have read a lot in the fantasy genre -- doesn't have to be fantasy but I am definitely enjoying the fantasy kick I'm on.