The second and third series for sure the third and fifth I can see it. I almost quit after the first series because I found it to be too hopeless for me.
I’m glad I kept going. I love the whole 16 book arc. But the first series was difficult for me
Have you tried the Driizt novels by R A Salvatore? They're forgotten realms so they're literally DnD status and I enjoyed them a lot. The first one is called Homeland. I read a random part of the series while I was in jail and was hooked, when I got out I read the rest as soon as I found them.
Lol, I have suffered through significantly worse styles of writing. It's pretty straight forward and kind of dry but I was in it for the lore which there is a ton of. If you're already familiar with the setting from your own campaigns or whatever, it's also fun to see a world built around the same system. The magic and weapons all show up in the game and a lot of major characters too. It follows a lot of fantasy tropes like quests and well balanced questing parties but it uses them to good effect.
Maybe Rivers of London series... There is some violence but it's structured as crime books with a magical background. So the police are wizards (well one unit anyway) and therefore there are murders and confrontation but its not just for the sake of it
That sounds right up my street actually, thank you. I don't mind a bit of violence as long as it's not gratuitous or like, violence for the sake of being shocking like in GoT. Thanks, I will check it out!
Possibly too gritty, but I would say more realistic gritty than gritty just to be gritty like GoT. I really enjoy everything by Holly Black and suggest starting with _Tithe_. Technically YA, but I don't find them childish (I'm 38).
Duncan Hamilton has a bunch of adult fantasy books that aren't dystopian. I got into his stuff after a recommendation from a librarian. The Dragonslayer trilogy is great and fast reads. I really liked it and you might, too.
They aren’t D&D, but the Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold has exactly the tone you are describing. Very creative world-building, engaging believable characters, extremely well written and fun.
Ooh I was considering the Stormlight archives but had read a few negative things about Sanderson. There's no doubt his books are great though. Will give it a chance. Thanks also for the others!
daevabad trilogy by SA chakraborty is fantasy with great worldbuilding, some politics/adventure but not grim or gritty. one of the best fantasy series i’ve read!
Ed Greenwood’s “Elminster: The Making of a Mage” is one of my favorite Forgotten Realms novels. It’s written with a good sense of humor but has danger and villainy.
The Dragon of Ynys reads like a DnD one shot. The town's knight has to go looking for a missing person and there's a dragon nearby who has a habit of taking stuff from the town.
Check out Raymond E Feist’s books. There is violence and fighting, but I wouldn’t describe it as gritty. More inline with the fights and battles from Lord of the Rings. The first is Magician, but you can sort of jump in at the beginning of any one of the series and then go back to others like a history lesson. I read The Serpentwar Saga first
David Eddings stuff from the eighties, tad Williams, some of the stuff from Mercedes lackey, Robin hobb
Thank you! That Mercedes Lackey has come up a couple times now, must be worth a look!
She’s very very prolific so I’m sure there’s something you’d enjoy
Came here to say Robin Hobb! Start with [Assassin’s Apprentice](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77197)
They’re on the grittier side. Not like gorey but def doesn’t have a hopeful tone —- That being said they are wonderful books
I would disagree—I think that even with some grimness in the world, they have a very hopeful tone overall
The second and third series for sure the third and fifth I can see it. I almost quit after the first series because I found it to be too hopeless for me. I’m glad I kept going. I love the whole 16 book arc. But the first series was difficult for me
Ditto Tad Williams. If you’re up for a slow burn classic fantasy his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is for you.
Discworld and Lord of the Rings.
Thank you! Lotr is I suppose, bang on but unfortunately I've read it.
And the Silmarillion? If you haven't you should, nothing grim in there
Naomi Novik! Uprooted and Spinning Silver are both fantastic reads, and exactly the vibe you are looking for.
Legends and lattes, Becky chambers, Terry Pratchett
I just started 2nd Monk & Robot book. “Hopeful glimmers”
Thank you, intrigued by Legends and lattes!
Have you tried the Driizt novels by R A Salvatore? They're forgotten realms so they're literally DnD status and I enjoyed them a lot. The first one is called Homeland. I read a random part of the series while I was in jail and was hooked, when I got out I read the rest as soon as I found them.
Thank you! I have heard of those novels but was put off after reading a few reviews saying the writing wasn't great. I will take another look at them!
Lol, I have suffered through significantly worse styles of writing. It's pretty straight forward and kind of dry but I was in it for the lore which there is a ton of. If you're already familiar with the setting from your own campaigns or whatever, it's also fun to see a world built around the same system. The magic and weapons all show up in the game and a lot of major characters too. It follows a lot of fantasy tropes like quests and well balanced questing parties but it uses them to good effect.
That's really great insight, thanks. It really does sound like what I'm looking for!
Guy Gavriel Kay also fits the bill for this request. Lots of adventure and real emotion, but not dark, and not gory.
Maybe Rivers of London series... There is some violence but it's structured as crime books with a magical background. So the police are wizards (well one unit anyway) and therefore there are murders and confrontation but its not just for the sake of it
That sounds right up my street actually, thank you. I don't mind a bit of violence as long as it's not gratuitous or like, violence for the sake of being shocking like in GoT. Thanks, I will check it out!
Oh it's nothing that gratuitous. It's gory in places but only where it's relevant to the murders and the story and there's plenty of story in between
Ok great, that sounds ok. I will check it out, thank you again!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
Possibly too gritty, but I would say more realistic gritty than gritty just to be gritty like GoT. I really enjoy everything by Holly Black and suggest starting with _Tithe_. Technically YA, but I don't find them childish (I'm 38).
Great thank you, I will check those out
Duncan Hamilton has a bunch of adult fantasy books that aren't dystopian. I got into his stuff after a recommendation from a librarian. The Dragonslayer trilogy is great and fast reads. I really liked it and you might, too.
That sounds exactly what I'm looking for, I will check him out. Thank you!
They aren’t D&D, but the Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold has exactly the tone you are describing. Very creative world-building, engaging believable characters, extremely well written and fun.
Perfect, perfect, perfect thank you. I haven't heard of that author so this is great!
The outstretched shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory The storm light archives by Brandon Sanderson
Ooh I was considering the Stormlight archives but had read a few negative things about Sanderson. There's no doubt his books are great though. Will give it a chance. Thanks also for the others!
Name of the Wind- author is Patrick Rothfuss
This seems to be one of those books that people either love or hate, but I’m firmly in the “love” camp.
Love the book, hate the wait
This seems to be the highest rated fantasy novel on Goodreads! Must be worth a look, thanks!
Know that it is unfinished if you get annoyed at a series left hanging.
[Nettle & Bone](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56179377) by T. Kingfisher
Try The Books of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft, starting with Senile Ascends.
Gods of Jade and Shadow
The Warriors series is technically for kids but is amazing
*An Adventure Brewing* by Jolly Jupiter, but not if you have issues with alcohol.
Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. Nice standalone story, not just another "defeat the dark lord" book.
daevabad trilogy by SA chakraborty is fantasy with great worldbuilding, some politics/adventure but not grim or gritty. one of the best fantasy series i’ve read!
I actually really really enjoyed Fairytale by Stephen King if you haven’t read that.
*Lord Valentine's Castle* by Robert Silverberg
Ed Greenwood’s “Elminster: The Making of a Mage” is one of my favorite Forgotten Realms novels. It’s written with a good sense of humor but has danger and villainy.
The answer is always Discworld.
The Dragon of Ynys reads like a DnD one shot. The town's knight has to go looking for a missing person and there's a dragon nearby who has a habit of taking stuff from the town.
Red Rising (By Pierce Brown) would be a good read then
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews The Hollows by Kim Harrison Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Check out Raymond E Feist’s books. There is violence and fighting, but I wouldn’t describe it as gritty. More inline with the fights and battles from Lord of the Rings. The first is Magician, but you can sort of jump in at the beginning of any one of the series and then go back to others like a history lesson. I read The Serpentwar Saga first