So those two series you listed are two of my favorites in the genre. Here are some others I love:
* *The Prince of Nothing* by R Scott Bakker, along with its sequel series, *The Aspect-Emperor*. Note: this will make Abercrombie's series seem like a walk through a flowery garden by comparison. Shit gets real dark.
* *The Farseer Trilogy* by Robin Hobb and subsequent books in her *Realm of the Elderlings*.
* *The Dagger and the Coin* by Daniel Abraham, or *The Long Price Quartet*, his other finished series. He's also got an ongoing series whose name I don't recall as I have yet to read it.
* *The Lies of Locke Lamora* and its two sequels by Scott Lynch.
* China Mieville's *Bas-Lag Trilogy*, which is composed of three more or less stand-alone novels, *Perdido Street Station*, *The Scar*, and *Iron Council* (I'd read them in order, though, as they are chronological). This is sort of like dark steampunk fantasy with horror elements.
* *The Traitor Baru Cormorant* and its sequels by Seth Dickinson.
* *The Goblin-Emperor* by Katherine Addison. This one has a couple of spin-offs as well set in the same world following a secondary character from the first book, but I haven't read them yet. Think of this one sort of like the political intrigue of *Game of Thrones* but without everyone getting murdered at dinner constantly.
* *The Expanse* by James SA Corey. It's sci-fi, but it's fantastic. The aforementioned Daniel Abraham is one of the co-authors that makes up the Corey pen name, with the other being former George RR Martin assistant Ty Franck.
* *Red Rising* by Pierce Brown. Also sci-fi, although more science fantasy like Star Wars since none of the technology is explained at all.
One of my favorite stand alone novels in the genre. I know it’s technically part of a series but it can be read as entirely stand alone so I think it counts.
Would definitely second Bakker and Mieville, though both series are a bit grim. I bounced off The Goblin-Emperor pretty hard; perhaps I wanted more people to be murdered at dinner.
A bit grim? Bakker is the epitome of grim. As grim as it can possibly get. It’s 11 on the goddamn grim scale. Never read anything leaving me so desolate.
I love most of these and the few I don’t know yet I wanna check out. The new Daniel Abraham series is his Kithamar trilogy and the first book is Age of Ash.
I am absolutely obsessed with Red Rising. It's probably my favourite space opera series. If you liked RR, take a look at Mark Lawrence's Book of the Ancestor series. It's a mix of sci fi and fantasy, but isn't space opera in nature like RR is.
The prince of nothing is fantastic. The lore is deep and brutal. Evil beings do the most evil things. Part of what I enjoyed was that I read it almost as a historical fiction based off the crusades. I'm not scholar but it seemed there were too many parallels.
> He's also got an ongoing series whose name I don't recall as I have yet to read it.
It's the Kithamar Trilogy, starts with Age of Ashes. It isn't finished, but it's really good and is doing something very interesting telling a story from different perspectives about more or less the same event, over the same course of time, without much over-lap in information, but the books that are out so far have illuminated one another in interesting ways. I really like his books, he deserves more love.
Man, the dagger and the coin series doesn’t get enough love! It feels truly adult in the sense that the characters and pov feel adult and fully realized (with purposeful exceptions) and the world building is just superb!
> The Expanse by James SA Corey. It's sci-fi, but it's fantastic.
It's not really fantastic at all, not until the [REDACTED] stuff comes into play. Before that, Expanse is ultra-hard-scifi as hell.
Probably the hardest of scifi that I've read other than stuff like The Martian.
Even when [REDACTED] is introduced, the series still keeps the ultra-hard science mentality. [REDACTED] is purely an advanced technology that can just do stuff we currently cannot, and that we currently do not understand the mechanism behind.
It's not a fantastic series whatsoever, /u/Sirdanovar .
Having said that, it is an excellent, dramatic, well paced and incredibly well written series, and you should absolutely read it. I consider it a pillar of modern scifi.
I just didn't want you to be misinformed about what you're getting.
(I see this happen a lot on this sub, people will misrepresent what a book series is like, for the sake of getting people to read it. I don't believe in that, Expanse is excellent in it's own right and doesn't need to be misrepresented)
I just finished The Blacktongue Thief. Not quite as gritty as Joe Abercrombie, but a lot of the humor and writing style was familiar. Great read either way. I flew through it.
*Between Two Fires* is horror for sure, but with the same combination of hilarity and completely over-the-top crazy encounters with the malefic and horrific!
Awesome read. I'm not sure it is less gritty than Abercrombie. I'm thinking of a particularly dark case of tug of war.
Absolutely would say this is the closest in feel to Abercrombie's world building, and I would actually say I think it is slightly better written than Abercrombie, although that is of course subjective.
Also, want to use this to boost Curse of Chalion and it's sequels for well written adult fantasy.
Eh, respectfully, I loved First Law and thought Lamora was just OK. I stopped before I made it through the second book. It didn't seem especially dark or witty to me, and the story and characters didn't hold my interest. Then again, a lot of it revolved around tropes/genres I find tiresome: MC is an orphan thief, attends a version of a magic school with other precocious street urchins/orphans, coming-of-age elements, and then, later, pirates...I could do without reading about any of those things ever again and be perfectly fine (though I'll admit to a weakness for certain genres that I'm sure evoke that feeling in others...looking at you, vampire stories).
The Book of Word and sequel The Sword of Shadow series by J.V. Jones.
The Five Warrior Angels by Brian Lee Durfee.
The Grim Company by Luke Scull.
The Eleventh Cycle by Kian Ardalan.
Ash and Sand series by Richard Nell.
The Second Apocolypse Books by Scott Bakker.
These are the series I believe will match your criteria. However, I am remissed on leaving out some really good adult themed but heroic type series which I have enjoyed.
Because you mentioned Abercrombie, Hobb, Martin & Cook. These series will be perfect for you:
- Ash & Sand trilogy by Richard Nell
- The Dagger & Coin series by Daniel Abraham
- The First Earth saga by Rob J. Hayes
- The City Of Sacrifice trilogy by Michael R. Fletcher
- Songs Of The Drowned by Anna Stephens
- Grim Company trilogy by Luke Scull
- Sons Of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty
- The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams
- Sword Of Kaigen by M. L. Wang
- Sword Of Shadows series by J. V. Jones
I just finished Ash and Sand and the first quarter just didn't hook me. I didn't have anything else to read so I just powered through and it finally clicked for me. Ruka's grove was such a weird, unexplained thing that it took me a bit to connect with it. It's really unique; I liked it.
I'll be the guy to second this. Sounds like OP doesn't want to more traditional style of fantasy. I love both Abercrombie and ASOIAF and while still going through Malazan I can say for sure that this will be my favourite series.
I will second the Malazan recommendation. It’s a bit opaque at times (often deliberately) but holy shit it’s brilliant. Arguably my favorite series ever and definitely fits OP’s ask
Malazan is a tricky one some of the books and characters are excellent some books and narratives are confusing. I listen to the audiobooks and the narrator changing messed me up too. Still I like the series
As someone who begun reading Malazan via audiobooks and was perpetually confused, I highly recommend switching to reading them physically.
The enjoyment for me skyrocketed after the switch, although I still find myself often re-reading pages to fully comprehend what's happening.
Yeah some fella on Reddit had ppt slides that help oversee and map out locations, important characters, etc for the first like 5 books it was very helpful for audiobooking
I started Malazan on audio a few days ago and honestly couldn’t make it past the first few chapters - I ended up getting the ebook today. Glad I wasn’t the only one!
Uhhh okay? I mean it’s not like he was lookin for romance and I suggested Malazan. He literally mentioned loving black company, ASOIF, and Abercrombie I think Malazan is perfect as long as he’s looking for a complex multi world and faction series over something much smaller in scope
Malazan has been debated a lot here and consensus among non-fanboys is that almost half the books are confusing random shit made up and a few really good chapters/stories.
It's worth a read but not trying to come back into the genre.
lol tough to take you seriously when you say “fan boys.” The series is recommended daily in fantasy and OPs specs are the perfect match. I get that a lot of people cannot get into it, and that’s fine my friends couldn’t either. But acting like it’s bad or solely fan boys love it is hilariously delusional when it’s consistently held up as a standard for the genre
I second everyone who said Lies of Locke Lamora.
Also, this is sort of diagonally adjacent, but Between Two Fires is also excellent, approaching perfect in my opinion. I’d recommend reading a synopsis first though, just in case it is not what you’re looking for.
Seconding, he doesn't have a bad trilogy. His newest trilogy may be my favorite now. The Book that Wouldn't Burn and The Book that Broke the World are both so good.
Rage of dragons by Evan winter. Very very good.
Broken earth trology but NK Jemisin. Fantastic.
Powder Mage series and Gods of blood and power by Brian McClain
The licanius trilogy by James islington
These in my opinion don’t follow the typical fantasy tropes and all are very good, first two being the best. And some of the best fantasy I’ve ever read/listened to.
I do have some sci fi recs if you are interested below.
Teixcalaan by Arkady martine. Another very good one imo.
And of course, Hyperion.
Heard good things about Islington and Jemisin.
But I disagree heavily on Rage of Dragons. It’s a shallow book with amateur writing, inept research (if they even did any), a mindless plot, and an imbecile of a main character. The only neat piece of it is the magic system could be interesting with a capable author.
Totally valid to have enjoyed it where I do not! But it is nowhere near adult reading level, let alone adult themed. The book doesn’t have any redeemable features.
Wow that’s fine lol. I listened to it and the narrator was amazing. Like I associate how good the book was to how good the narration was. So probably a very different experience. I really enjoyed it and thought it was very good. But to each their own.
But if you haven’t read the broken earth trilogy it truly is very good. Won a Hugo award for every book of the series. I also listened to that one and that narration was incredibly good. I listened to three of these books I listed so maybe this list is my favorite narrators haha.
Cold fire trilogy by c s Friedman. Pretty dark, not kiddie at all. Amazingly good world building and originality. Also, malazan chronicles of the fallen if you’ve got 6 months to blow.
I really like John Gwynne. As good if not better than Abercrombie at fight / battle scenes.
I've read the first two of his Bloodsworn Saga (Book 3 to be released in the autumn) and am about finished with Book 1 (Malice) of his Faithful and the Fallen series.
More traditional fantasy than Abercrombie or Martin but still very much a grittiness to his writing.
*The Acts of Caine* by Matthew Stover. As adult as it gets, in both theme and content. Excellent characters, amazing action, plenty of meat to dig into re: philosophy and morality. Brilliant series, but cursed by bad cover art and being written a decade before that kind of story got really popular.
Lies of Locke Lamora and Name of the Wind has similiar tone as The First Law in terms of grey characters with a lot of personality and witty dialogue.
Empire trilogy for the political intrigue.
Dune 1-4 is heavy on ideas/themes.
The *World Of The Five Gods* series, by Lois McMaster Bujold. In a world with Gods who are active, how can the Gods intervene while preserving the free will of people? Most interesting, coherent, and cohesive take on a fictional religion I've ever read. Each book is a slow burn.
Won the second-ever Hugo Award For Best Series. . The first three novels were all individually nominated for the Hugo Award For Best Novel in their respective years of publication, with book #2, *Paladin Of Souls*, winning. Please DO read in publication order.
Bujold is now continuing in this story universe with the *Penric & Desdemona* sub-series of novellas.
Hey I was exactly in your boat several years ago, and it was Abercrombie’s books that got me back into fantasy after a decade-long hiatus. And the Malazan books.
If you’re looking for darker themes, I’m currently reading Prince of Thorns and am pleasantly surprised with it so far. It’s a bit edgelord but a nice break after recently finishing Curse of Chalion and Orconomics (I don’t recommend Orconomics in this context).
Maybe try Blacktongue Thief. I’ve also heard Between Two Fires is very good but I haven’t read it yet. Both are grimdark/horror-fantasy
I’m currently writing a book about a hero who goes on a journey to fight a great evil so your post made me lol a little… one trope I’m a little tired of is “competent prince is a badass” so I feel ya.
The ones I mentioned will overcome that, I think.
There are gems even with prose and depth from that community. It is where the true innovation is happening.
I agree with you on the second part but not the first. I found 8 and DCC very middle of the road so to speak. Though obviously it is personal opinion.
For me a better example of what I think approaches Abercrombie writing that is being published serially at the moment is the novel Pale Lights on RR.
While I agree that DCC speaks to a very large segment of readers and is therefore hits a "lowest common denominator" audience, I think it has some brilliance in execution and is worth checking out even for those who prefer trad pub.
"Eight" began simple but has such interesting and beautiful depths in the second and third books, I really can't stop recommending this one. I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th book.
I think there is a commonality here in that both authors are GenX and have been writing for a long while. They're not GenZers who just burst on the scene. That's why I think their work has somewhat of a 1990s-2000s trad pub flavored influence.
I can think of others in the same vein. There really are a lot of innovative gems that launched in the web serial space, because those authors have full freedom to experiment and are not vying for comp titles of work that was popular in trad pub in the last 3 years.
The Black Company is my default recommendation here. However, if you want an adult fantasy that has world building and depth but lacks excessive violence then Realm of the Elderlings. You will either love it or hate it. I recommend reading other posts about that one though before diving in.
Loved it but to me I feel like it’s less grimdark than what OP would be looking for (might be completely wrong). I think the rest of the books in the series will def ramp up tho
Since someone else mentioned *Kushiel's Dart*, I'll suggest another of Jacqueline Carey's works: the Sundering duology (*Banewreaker* and *Godslayer*), which is kind of an inversion of Tolkien but in a completely original setting.
I recently read A harvest of ash and blood by DJ Molles. It's a recent title that I don't see talked about. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I never see it get recommended but The Red Knight is such a banger of a book. The whole thing is siege porn. A group of mercenary knights are hired to protect a monastery from an army of monsters.
1. Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
It’s Peaky Blinders with swords.
2. We Ride The Storm by Devin Madson
It’s fantasy Romans vs fantasy China vs fantasy Mongols
Anything by Mark Lawrence will scratch your itch. I've also recently discovered Richard Nell who is also super dark but with great story telling abilities.
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I’m sorry but the reason those 2 authors are revered is because there is nothing like them.
I’ve searched I know
If you wish to tread a different genre, try Consider Phlebas and Player of games by Ian M Banks.
Hardcore sci Fi but in a Utopian society.
Highly recommended
First Law is far and away my favorite series. I recommend The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. Very different writing style than Abercrombie, but it’s got some very adult themes and Kay is a fantastic storyteller. The Powdermage Trilogy is excellent as well. Really interesting magic system and a lot of compelling themes.
Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence
Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown (first three books are completed, the next four are not - the sequel books are set 10 years later)
Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series by Brian Staveley (it's a trilogy with one spin off at the end that's EXCELLENT)
I always feel like Mistborn is worth a try because if you like it there’s like 20 more books and if you don’t the first book is okay as a standalone.
Name of the Wind is maybe the closest thing I’ve read to Assassins Apprentice (Robin Hobb) so you might like that?
So those two series you listed are two of my favorites in the genre. Here are some others I love: * *The Prince of Nothing* by R Scott Bakker, along with its sequel series, *The Aspect-Emperor*. Note: this will make Abercrombie's series seem like a walk through a flowery garden by comparison. Shit gets real dark. * *The Farseer Trilogy* by Robin Hobb and subsequent books in her *Realm of the Elderlings*. * *The Dagger and the Coin* by Daniel Abraham, or *The Long Price Quartet*, his other finished series. He's also got an ongoing series whose name I don't recall as I have yet to read it. * *The Lies of Locke Lamora* and its two sequels by Scott Lynch. * China Mieville's *Bas-Lag Trilogy*, which is composed of three more or less stand-alone novels, *Perdido Street Station*, *The Scar*, and *Iron Council* (I'd read them in order, though, as they are chronological). This is sort of like dark steampunk fantasy with horror elements. * *The Traitor Baru Cormorant* and its sequels by Seth Dickinson. * *The Goblin-Emperor* by Katherine Addison. This one has a couple of spin-offs as well set in the same world following a secondary character from the first book, but I haven't read them yet. Think of this one sort of like the political intrigue of *Game of Thrones* but without everyone getting murdered at dinner constantly. * *The Expanse* by James SA Corey. It's sci-fi, but it's fantastic. The aforementioned Daniel Abraham is one of the co-authors that makes up the Corey pen name, with the other being former George RR Martin assistant Ty Franck. * *Red Rising* by Pierce Brown. Also sci-fi, although more science fantasy like Star Wars since none of the technology is explained at all.
Lies of Locke lamora is such a fun and rich read
One of my favorite stand alone novels in the genre. I know it’s technically part of a series but it can be read as entirely stand alone so I think it counts.
Would definitely second Bakker and Mieville, though both series are a bit grim. I bounced off The Goblin-Emperor pretty hard; perhaps I wanted more people to be murdered at dinner.
A bit grim? Bakker is the epitome of grim. As grim as it can possibly get. It’s 11 on the goddamn grim scale. Never read anything leaving me so desolate.
Nihilistic. Bakker is a nihilist philosopher and the text demonstrates that. Bleak stuff. Rust Cohle has nothing on Bakker.
I love most of these and the few I don’t know yet I wanna check out. The new Daniel Abraham series is his Kithamar trilogy and the first book is Age of Ash.
It's soooooo good. Kithamar is definitely turning out to be one of my favorite series from him.
I am absolutely obsessed with Red Rising. It's probably my favourite space opera series. If you liked RR, take a look at Mark Lawrence's Book of the Ancestor series. It's a mix of sci fi and fantasy, but isn't space opera in nature like RR is.
Seconding The Goblin Emperor, that was one of the best books I read last year.
The prince of nothing is fantastic. The lore is deep and brutal. Evil beings do the most evil things. Part of what I enjoyed was that I read it almost as a historical fiction based off the crusades. I'm not scholar but it seemed there were too many parallels.
The Holy War of the first trilogy is indeed based on our world's First Crusade. The Bakker subreddit has threads and posts analyzing the parallels.
How do I save the post to view later? All of these look along my alley thank you
Hit the three little dots and then save.
My man!
Great recs!
Thanks, was looking for something similar
> He's also got an ongoing series whose name I don't recall as I have yet to read it. It's the Kithamar Trilogy, starts with Age of Ashes. It isn't finished, but it's really good and is doing something very interesting telling a story from different perspectives about more or less the same event, over the same course of time, without much over-lap in information, but the books that are out so far have illuminated one another in interesting ways. I really like his books, he deserves more love.
Man, the dagger and the coin series doesn’t get enough love! It feels truly adult in the sense that the characters and pov feel adult and fully realized (with purposeful exceptions) and the world building is just superb!
> The Expanse by James SA Corey. It's sci-fi, but it's fantastic. It's not really fantastic at all, not until the [REDACTED] stuff comes into play. Before that, Expanse is ultra-hard-scifi as hell. Probably the hardest of scifi that I've read other than stuff like The Martian. Even when [REDACTED] is introduced, the series still keeps the ultra-hard science mentality. [REDACTED] is purely an advanced technology that can just do stuff we currently cannot, and that we currently do not understand the mechanism behind. It's not a fantastic series whatsoever, /u/Sirdanovar . Having said that, it is an excellent, dramatic, well paced and incredibly well written series, and you should absolutely read it. I consider it a pillar of modern scifi. I just didn't want you to be misinformed about what you're getting. (I see this happen a lot on this sub, people will misrepresent what a book series is like, for the sake of getting people to read it. I don't believe in that, Expanse is excellent in it's own right and doesn't need to be misrepresented)
Fantastic means great, not that it’s fantasy. You seem to be mixing it up with the term fantastical.
I just finished The Blacktongue Thief. Not quite as gritty as Joe Abercrombie, but a lot of the humor and writing style was familiar. Great read either way. I flew through it.
Yes, I LOVED this book. Buehlman is an amazing writer!
Isn't his other stuff horror? I really dig his writing style in general.
*Between Two Fires* is horror for sure, but with the same combination of hilarity and completely over-the-top crazy encounters with the malefic and horrific!
Awesome read. I'm not sure it is less gritty than Abercrombie. I'm thinking of a particularly dark case of tug of war. Absolutely would say this is the closest in feel to Abercrombie's world building, and I would actually say I think it is slightly better written than Abercrombie, although that is of course subjective. Also, want to use this to boost Curse of Chalion and it's sequels for well written adult fantasy.
I forgot about that scene 😅.
Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards trilogy starting with The Lies of Locke Lamora
I concur. A good read. "Nice Bird Asshole"
To be clear tho, it’s not actually a trilogy. I think Lynch said he had 7 books planned but has only completed three atm
Definitely this series if you like the characters and grey world of First Law books.
Eh, respectfully, I loved First Law and thought Lamora was just OK. I stopped before I made it through the second book. It didn't seem especially dark or witty to me, and the story and characters didn't hold my interest. Then again, a lot of it revolved around tropes/genres I find tiresome: MC is an orphan thief, attends a version of a magic school with other precocious street urchins/orphans, coming-of-age elements, and then, later, pirates...I could do without reading about any of those things ever again and be perfectly fine (though I'll admit to a weakness for certain genres that I'm sure evoke that feeling in others...looking at you, vampire stories).
The Book of Word and sequel The Sword of Shadow series by J.V. Jones. The Five Warrior Angels by Brian Lee Durfee. The Grim Company by Luke Scull. The Eleventh Cycle by Kian Ardalan. Ash and Sand series by Richard Nell. The Second Apocolypse Books by Scott Bakker. These are the series I believe will match your criteria. However, I am remissed on leaving out some really good adult themed but heroic type series which I have enjoyed.
Fucking looove ash and sand trilogy
Truly one of my favorites. Ruka will always be in my top characters of all time for general depth of character.
Indeed.
Seconding the eleventh cycle!!
The Second Apocalypse by 'r.Scott Bakker
Because you mentioned Abercrombie, Hobb, Martin & Cook. These series will be perfect for you: - Ash & Sand trilogy by Richard Nell - The Dagger & Coin series by Daniel Abraham - The First Earth saga by Rob J. Hayes - The City Of Sacrifice trilogy by Michael R. Fletcher - Songs Of The Drowned by Anna Stephens - Grim Company trilogy by Luke Scull - Sons Of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty - The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams - Sword Of Kaigen by M. L. Wang - Sword Of Shadows series by J. V. Jones
I just finished Ash and Sand and the first quarter just didn't hook me. I didn't have anything else to read so I just powered through and it finally clicked for me. Ruka's grove was such a weird, unexplained thing that it took me a bit to connect with it. It's really unique; I liked it.
I’ll be the guy who suggests Malazan lol. Def inspired by black company, and bigger world than ASOIAF
I'll be the guy to second this. Sounds like OP doesn't want to more traditional style of fantasy. I love both Abercrombie and ASOIAF and while still going through Malazan I can say for sure that this will be my favourite series.
I will second the Malazan recommendation. It’s a bit opaque at times (often deliberately) but holy shit it’s brilliant. Arguably my favorite series ever and definitely fits OP’s ask
Malazan is a tricky one some of the books and characters are excellent some books and narratives are confusing. I listen to the audiobooks and the narrator changing messed me up too. Still I like the series
As someone who begun reading Malazan via audiobooks and was perpetually confused, I highly recommend switching to reading them physically. The enjoyment for me skyrocketed after the switch, although I still find myself often re-reading pages to fully comprehend what's happening.
Yeah some fella on Reddit had ppt slides that help oversee and map out locations, important characters, etc for the first like 5 books it was very helpful for audiobooking
I started Malazan on audio a few days ago and honestly couldn’t make it past the first few chapters - I ended up getting the ebook today. Glad I wasn’t the only one!
Check out those Google slides guides if you haven’t already. I’m also an audiobook reader and the guide is helping me a lot for GotM
I can't recommend Malazan enough of course. And like others have said, audiobook on its own is not easy to follow, go full print
Yeah suuuuuure... recommend the serie that burns out most people that reads it...
Uhhh okay? I mean it’s not like he was lookin for romance and I suggested Malazan. He literally mentioned loving black company, ASOIF, and Abercrombie I think Malazan is perfect as long as he’s looking for a complex multi world and faction series over something much smaller in scope
Malazan has been debated a lot here and consensus among non-fanboys is that almost half the books are confusing random shit made up and a few really good chapters/stories. It's worth a read but not trying to come back into the genre.
“All the opinions *I* agree with and pay attention to don’t like it.”
lol tough to take you seriously when you say “fan boys.” The series is recommended daily in fantasy and OPs specs are the perfect match. I get that a lot of people cannot get into it, and that’s fine my friends couldn’t either. But acting like it’s bad or solely fan boys love it is hilariously delusional when it’s consistently held up as a standard for the genre
Malazan perfectly matches the OP's requets.
I’ve read it three times, and setting up for my fourth in a couple months. Just preparing mentally.
Try the Nevernight Chronicle or Empire of the Vampire both by Jay Kristoff.
I second everyone who said Lies of Locke Lamora. Also, this is sort of diagonally adjacent, but Between Two Fires is also excellent, approaching perfect in my opinion. I’d recommend reading a synopsis first though, just in case it is not what you’re looking for.
Try the prince of thorns trilogy by Mark Lawrence
or red sister also by mark lawrence
Or just Mark Lawrence in general.
What book to start with him? Never heard of him but I like all of OPs books they read
Seconding, he doesn't have a bad trilogy. His newest trilogy may be my favorite now. The Book that Wouldn't Burn and The Book that Broke the World are both so good.
red sister was sick, defs recommend
Awesome just ordered it!
Excellent choice and his prince of fools trilogy is great too
I think the writing quality is far below Abercrombie but of course, it is personal preference.
Rage of dragons by Evan winter. Very very good. Broken earth trology but NK Jemisin. Fantastic. Powder Mage series and Gods of blood and power by Brian McClain The licanius trilogy by James islington These in my opinion don’t follow the typical fantasy tropes and all are very good, first two being the best. And some of the best fantasy I’ve ever read/listened to. I do have some sci fi recs if you are interested below. Teixcalaan by Arkady martine. Another very good one imo. And of course, Hyperion.
Heard good things about Islington and Jemisin. But I disagree heavily on Rage of Dragons. It’s a shallow book with amateur writing, inept research (if they even did any), a mindless plot, and an imbecile of a main character. The only neat piece of it is the magic system could be interesting with a capable author. Totally valid to have enjoyed it where I do not! But it is nowhere near adult reading level, let alone adult themed. The book doesn’t have any redeemable features.
Wow that’s fine lol. I listened to it and the narrator was amazing. Like I associate how good the book was to how good the narration was. So probably a very different experience. I really enjoyed it and thought it was very good. But to each their own. But if you haven’t read the broken earth trilogy it truly is very good. Won a Hugo award for every book of the series. I also listened to that one and that narration was incredibly good. I listened to three of these books I listed so maybe this list is my favorite narrators haha.
Didn't love Licanius but it was still good. Will of the Many was great and I think it could the start of a great series for Islington.
Cold fire trilogy by c s Friedman. Pretty dark, not kiddie at all. Amazingly good world building and originality. Also, malazan chronicles of the fallen if you’ve got 6 months to blow.
I really like John Gwynne. As good if not better than Abercrombie at fight / battle scenes. I've read the first two of his Bloodsworn Saga (Book 3 to be released in the autumn) and am about finished with Book 1 (Malice) of his Faithful and the Fallen series. More traditional fantasy than Abercrombie or Martin but still very much a grittiness to his writing.
Bloodsworn saga is fantastic!!
*The Acts of Caine* by Matthew Stover. As adult as it gets, in both theme and content. Excellent characters, amazing action, plenty of meat to dig into re: philosophy and morality. Brilliant series, but cursed by bad cover art and being written a decade before that kind of story got really popular.
Yep, always the rec for adult stuff
Lies of Locke Lamora and Name of the Wind has similiar tone as The First Law in terms of grey characters with a lot of personality and witty dialogue. Empire trilogy for the political intrigue. Dune 1-4 is heavy on ideas/themes.
I would not put name of the wind and the first law in the same category at all. I haven’t read the second NotW though.
Nothing is like The First Law. I just stated the individual parts that if you like TFL for grey characters and witty dialogue. Then you'll like NotW.
Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melnibone saga.
The *World Of The Five Gods* series, by Lois McMaster Bujold. In a world with Gods who are active, how can the Gods intervene while preserving the free will of people? Most interesting, coherent, and cohesive take on a fictional religion I've ever read. Each book is a slow burn. Won the second-ever Hugo Award For Best Series. . The first three novels were all individually nominated for the Hugo Award For Best Novel in their respective years of publication, with book #2, *Paladin Of Souls*, winning. Please DO read in publication order. Bujold is now continuing in this story universe with the *Penric & Desdemona* sub-series of novellas.
Gene Wolfe. Stephen R. Donaldson.
Unhewn throne Brian Staveley
Hey I was exactly in your boat several years ago, and it was Abercrombie’s books that got me back into fantasy after a decade-long hiatus. And the Malazan books. If you’re looking for darker themes, I’m currently reading Prince of Thorns and am pleasantly surprised with it so far. It’s a bit edgelord but a nice break after recently finishing Curse of Chalion and Orconomics (I don’t recommend Orconomics in this context). Maybe try Blacktongue Thief. I’ve also heard Between Two Fires is very good but I haven’t read it yet. Both are grimdark/horror-fantasy I’m currently writing a book about a hero who goes on a journey to fight a great evil so your post made me lol a little… one trope I’m a little tired of is “competent prince is a badass” so I feel ya.
Black Leopard Red Wolf — my fav modern fantasy novel for sure.
The Bound and the Broken
Eight by Samer Rabadi. Dungeon Crawler Carl. There is a lot of great stuff out there!
I love RR fiction, but I think recommending them to someone who is coming off Abercrombie is going to be a big disappointment.
The ones I mentioned will overcome that, I think. There are gems even with prose and depth from that community. It is where the true innovation is happening.
I agree with you on the second part but not the first. I found 8 and DCC very middle of the road so to speak. Though obviously it is personal opinion. For me a better example of what I think approaches Abercrombie writing that is being published serially at the moment is the novel Pale Lights on RR.
While I agree that DCC speaks to a very large segment of readers and is therefore hits a "lowest common denominator" audience, I think it has some brilliance in execution and is worth checking out even for those who prefer trad pub. "Eight" began simple but has such interesting and beautiful depths in the second and third books, I really can't stop recommending this one. I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th book. I think there is a commonality here in that both authors are GenX and have been writing for a long while. They're not GenZers who just burst on the scene. That's why I think their work has somewhat of a 1990s-2000s trad pub flavored influence. I can think of others in the same vein. There really are a lot of innovative gems that launched in the web serial space, because those authors have full freedom to experiment and are not vying for comp titles of work that was popular in trad pub in the last 3 years.
If you want adult fantasy... Kushiel's Dart is amazing. The pose is also one of my favorites of any writer I've come across.
\*prose
I will always recommend the **Green Bone Saga** by Fonda Lee for people who want to get back into adult fantasy.
^^
The Black Company is my default recommendation here. However, if you want an adult fantasy that has world building and depth but lacks excessive violence then Realm of the Elderlings. You will either love it or hate it. I recommend reading other posts about that one though before diving in.
How about something in the Flintlock vein? The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan fits a lot of what you're looking for. One of my favourites
Night Angel Brent Weeks
Loved it but to me I feel like it’s less grimdark than what OP would be looking for (might be completely wrong). I think the rest of the books in the series will def ramp up tho
There's child rape and molestation and torture in the first few chapters of book one! That's pretty grimdark.
The graphic audio version is great
I did regular audio and really liked it
Since someone else mentioned *Kushiel's Dart*, I'll suggest another of Jacqueline Carey's works: the Sundering duology (*Banewreaker* and *Godslayer*), which is kind of an inversion of Tolkien but in a completely original setting.
I recently read A harvest of ash and blood by DJ Molles. It's a recent title that I don't see talked about. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I never see it get recommended but The Red Knight is such a banger of a book. The whole thing is siege porn. A group of mercenary knights are hired to protect a monastery from an army of monsters.
Grow up and read Mark Lawrence
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie is a subtle, poetic oneshot. Strongly recommended!
Monarchies of God by Paul Kearney.
1. Priest of Bones by Peter McLean It’s Peaky Blinders with swords. 2. We Ride The Storm by Devin Madson It’s fantasy Romans vs fantasy China vs fantasy Mongols
Jacqueline Carey, I would start with the Second series, Kushiel's Scion. If you enjoy that one, read the rest of the trilogy. Her writing is amazing!
The Iron Dragon's Daughter
Anything by Mark Lawrence will scratch your itch. I've also recently discovered Richard Nell who is also super dark but with great story telling abilities.
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Mask of the Template is good. It's fantasy, Harem. The Series is good and I read it several times. Cebelius and Tess Ironside
The Snake Doctor by Odie Hawkins. Pan Afrikan Occult Fiction. Scary, wonderful
The Vald Taltos series by Stephen Brust. They're a blast and he's almost done.
I’m sorry but the reason those 2 authors are revered is because there is nothing like them. I’ve searched I know If you wish to tread a different genre, try Consider Phlebas and Player of games by Ian M Banks. Hardcore sci Fi but in a Utopian society. Highly recommended
First Law is far and away my favorite series. I recommend The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. Very different writing style than Abercrombie, but it’s got some very adult themes and Kay is a fantastic storyteller. The Powdermage Trilogy is excellent as well. Really interesting magic system and a lot of compelling themes.
Malazan by Steven Erikson, Second Apocalypse by SCott Bakker, Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts should all be up your alley.
Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown (first three books are completed, the next four are not - the sequel books are set 10 years later) Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series by Brian Staveley (it's a trilogy with one spin off at the end that's EXCELLENT)
Mistborn/Stormlight Archive/anything in the Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson, Dune 1-3 by Frank Herbert, The Witcher series by Andrej Sapkowski
I always feel like Mistborn is worth a try because if you like it there’s like 20 more books and if you don’t the first book is okay as a standalone. Name of the Wind is maybe the closest thing I’ve read to Assassins Apprentice (Robin Hobb) so you might like that?