Beginner to Advanced Fantasy Books Sorted (All our favorites!) ft Daniel Greene

Рет қаралды 1,321,492

4 жыл бұрын

Links to books I talked about in this video
(These are affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I get a small percentage of the sale):
Mistborn amzn.to/2xEyfEk
Elantris amzn.to/2FYweaI
Warbreaker amzn.to/2FYyKO3
Good Omens amzn.to/2Xv6Cbu
The Name of the Wind amzn.to/2G2MV4M
Narnia amzn.to/2LEzA6x
The Ocean at the End of the Lane amzn.to/2FZB4Vi
Stormlight amzn.to/2XAyRdJ
The Lies of Locke Lamora amzn.to/2XwLG8R
American Gods amzn.to/2LIApeE
First Law amzn.to/2JkI01g
An Unkindness of Magicians amzn.to/2xFkBAM
Lightbringer amzn.to/2XwD41S
Wheel of Time amzn.to/2Xx2LdN
A Game of Thrones amzn.to/2LECQP4
Broken Earth amzn.to/2LNpVux
Witcher amzn.to/2G1Cej3
Dark Tower amzn.to/2LIAMG4
Daniel's Channel: / @danielgreenereviews
WHERE TO FIND ME:
► My Patreon: / merphynapier
► Goodreads: / merphy-napier
► Instagram: / merphynapier
► E-mail: merphynapier@gmail.com

Пікірлер: 4 100

@ShalomDove 4 жыл бұрын

“Brandon , go outside...” *Sanderson, holding a bottle of vitamin D tablets* “sunlight is for amateurs.”

@jonahbardwell551 4 жыл бұрын

Brandon can go outside once the Stormlight Archive is finished

@thelmahannah1327 4 жыл бұрын

He can go outside when we get The Lost Metal!

@ashenone3050 4 жыл бұрын

@Arthur Pilgram first elantris 2 , then he can proceed to warbreaker 2 , i need to see my dula friend

@abdurrehman4932 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah I don't want him to turn into grrm

@danalou_who7765 4 жыл бұрын

😂He could just take his laptop outside and slap on some sunscreen and keep on writing like a madman.

@reidszimmerman 4 жыл бұрын

This only makes me wish for a podcast with these two.

@platonist21 4 жыл бұрын

YES omg i would love that

@waleed5783 4 жыл бұрын

they kinda just did that ...... start your time machine

@cartoonfreak9635 4 жыл бұрын

What???MEEE really where

@waleed5783 4 жыл бұрын

@@cartoonfreak9635 I was talking about the live stream they did a couple of hours ago

@castlebroknhed8065 4 жыл бұрын

OMG Yes! These two should definitely start a podcast together.

@ernestogcosta 3 жыл бұрын

2019: Brandon, go outside 2020: Brandon, stay home.

@derekhofstetler3998 3 жыл бұрын

Little did we know that he writes everywhere. Yes, EVERYWHERE.

@chajavier8385 2 жыл бұрын

2021: Brandon, get vaccinated.

@ezioauditore6038 2 жыл бұрын

2021: Let's go Brandon!

@Ignikus 2 жыл бұрын

@@ezioauditore6038 Heh.

@eternally.sleepy 3 жыл бұрын

Daniel: “Brandon, go outside!” Also Daniel: *New video every day

@annejia5382 2 жыл бұрын

this!!! 😂😂😂

@TheHEAVYDAN 2 жыл бұрын

the sun burnses

@Nertea 4 жыл бұрын

"Brandon, go outside...", who needs sunlight when you have Stormlight?

@mitchierainbow7353 3 жыл бұрын

This is genius😄👍🏻

@jhart1127 3 жыл бұрын

Wooooooop there it is 🙌

@Go.to.horny_jail 3 жыл бұрын

This is a bar

@Thenoobestgirl 2 жыл бұрын

**ba dam tsssss!** 🥁😜👉

@alephanull1953 2 жыл бұрын

Pure Facts

@Hoaking 4 жыл бұрын

Merphy: I skip the song breaks... Do you read them?? Daniel: I read them, they are good poetry Me: .... I sing them... I thought that was what every one did

@alexjohannes7908 4 жыл бұрын

Have you listened to clamavi de profondis ? They put them into songs, it's amazing.

@Bianca-vg9yn 4 жыл бұрын

I sing them, too! just inside my head, most times. They add to the atmosphere of the scene.

@noeljobu5626 4 жыл бұрын

@paulregan9304 4 жыл бұрын

This comment actually made me laugh out loud

@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244 3 жыл бұрын

I do sing them

@SlackwareNVM 3 жыл бұрын

16:45 As Merphy was falling, she was like "The book, Daniel, save the book!", not knowing how Dan treats his own books.

@AleksandarIvanov69 2 жыл бұрын

Or how heavily medicated he was

@michaelcherokee8906 2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksandarIvanov69 What?

@michaelcherokee8906 2 жыл бұрын

Um... Are you aware of how she treats HER books?

@drishti8822 2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelcherokee8906 you don't wanna disturb them.

@Its_Mara_C Жыл бұрын

@@michaelcherokee8906h

@edifiedreader 3 жыл бұрын

It's not a Daniel and Merphy crossover episode unless Daniel praises Wheel of Time and Merphy praises The Lies of Locke Lamora.

@-----REDACTED----- 4 жыл бұрын

I still think it’s one of the greatest flexes in authorship ever that Tolkien wrote the LotR series because he thought the languages he invented as a linguist needed some background...😂 He basically created the greatest series of fantasy ever on a whim...

@zr5941 3 жыл бұрын

He actually wrote "Quenta Silmarillion" and other writings to explain how the languages came to be. He wrote LotR because his readers wanted more stories about hobbits.

@alek2913 3 жыл бұрын

@@zr5941 Hit reply to say this. Good on ya

@niicopanda 3 жыл бұрын

@@zr5941 That was the biggest screeching "ACKshoeaaaalllY" I've heard in a while. But, as a Tolkien fan, I raise my glass to you. Fair point.

@luluraheem8487 3 жыл бұрын

He also wrote it while procrastinating something else

@-----REDACTED----- 3 жыл бұрын

@@zr5941 thank you for illuminating this! ❤️ (I obviously didn’t know that!) Still a flex since LotR still is a result of that wish, innit? 😜

@nvwest 4 жыл бұрын

Beginner 1:01 Mistborn 3:50 Warbreaker & Elantris 4:50 Good Omens 5:45 King Killer 6:45 Narnia 8:25 The ocean at the end of the lane 8:40 Duel of Fire Intermedite 9:10 Stormlight Archive 10:45 Gentleman Bastard 12:40 American Gods 14:00 Lord of the Rings 15:25 First Law 17:00 An Unkindness of Magicians 21:05 Lightbringer Advanced 18:25 The Wheel of Time 22:30 A Song of Ice and Fire 23:47 Broken Earth 24:25 Dark Tower 25:00 Witcher Actually, having read about half of these already, I don’t agree with this at all. Witcher is so easy to read through. Good omens as well. The stormlight archive I could barely put down. Lord of the Rings however really was a struggle. Both because of not being used to the writing style and because of already knowing the story too much to have this strong drive to find out what will happen next. Also the wheel of time is much easier to read than A song of ice and fire, but for both series I’m at book 5. Asoiaf b6 has been waiting on the shelf for almost a year and wot is an addicting I started not even two months ago that hooked me so much at the start of this year that I’ll finish the series before I know it.

@godhatesme3231 4 жыл бұрын

I agree with your opinion sooo much!

@Horus070 4 жыл бұрын

I read a bunch of their list ... do agree with you though, for the books I read.

@Roonagu 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I read Witcher when I was 13, first adult literature I read actually..not really difficult read, beforehand I read maybe Narnia series, Harry Potter and Eragon out of fantasy.

@cordeliabryant8259 4 жыл бұрын

What about the malorean? It was a precursor to almost all of those books.

@madisongracedeluise 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the time stamps!

@NekoMouser 3 жыл бұрын

The Mistborn series is one of the tighest I ever read. You get to the end of the last page in the third book and you feel as if the author knew exactly where he'd be and how he'd get there from page 1 of book 1. It just all came into play and you realize clues were laid out two books before for things that pay off in book three, and not in that "they threw a lot of mud at the wall early on so that they could make something pay off and look like a genius, even though a lot of things didn't pay off" way. It felt like every word had purpose and intent all the way through. It's impressive.

@sebastianolives8068 Жыл бұрын

I completely agree. I think its because brandon kind of wrote all 3 books all at once so it all ties together really well.

@Trepur349 11 ай бұрын

Yeah the first thing I did after finishing the 3rd book was I read book 1 again. Mainly to examine Ruin's influence on the plot of the first book.

@themaster5173 3 жыл бұрын

Merphy: Kingkiller is Daniel’s favourite right now. Wheel of Time: *Sad noises*

@michalkrsik2702 3 жыл бұрын

I missed the fact that it was a joke as well :D Ïn another video he puts the series very low on the list.

@aflowerthatcannotbebloomed 4 жыл бұрын

A goat person is either called a satyr or a faun. A satyr is the name they used in the Greek mythology while faun is from the Roman mythology. Yay to Rick Riordan for educating me about mythology😂😂

@ziyanda_theartist 4 жыл бұрын

I've only seen the Narnia movies and not read the books, but I believe they used the term "faun", yes.

@knutolavbjrgaas1069 4 жыл бұрын

I believe that in Narnia, at least the films(can't remember if it's talked about in the books), satyrs and fauns are different things. Satyrs being basically a humanoid goat, and fauns being goat legs and human torso.

@ziyanda_theartist 4 жыл бұрын

@@knutolavbjrgaas1069 Oooh, yeah, I was thinking of James McAvoy's character, who was a faun, but you are right, I think he mentioned it as well, if I'm not mistaken..?

@laner.845 4 жыл бұрын

Sometimes a goat man is just a Goatman. Thanks Diablo.

@Trustworthy_McLegitimate 4 жыл бұрын

how do you milk those things???

@CanadaAtheist 4 жыл бұрын

To get into Lord of the rings as a beginner, it might be better to read The Hobbit before the Trilogy.

@AKdsad100 4 жыл бұрын

@Arshia Rajabi It is a book for children...

@michaelwatson3549 3 жыл бұрын

I'd watch the films first. Gets you to know the characters then read the books. Do not watch the Hobbit films though (how do you get three movies out of such a short book)

@Luke-cp2jz 3 жыл бұрын

Johnny McCann the dwarves fell into the background too though. like the only memorable dwarves were bombur and thorin from the books. fili, kili, oin, gloin, etc never did anything really so i feel even in the books they served little to no purpose.

@edh7071 3 жыл бұрын

The Hobbit comes before the trilogy in a chronological sense, but I read the trilogy first (nearly 50 years ago - God, I'm old!) and I never regretted not having read The Hobbit first. LTR was the "big thing" among college students in the late 60s. There were even T-shirts that read: "Frodo Lives!", so you had to have read the book to be in on what's happening.

@johnnymccann7797 3 жыл бұрын

edh yeah, it doesn’t really matter much what you read first, it would still make sense. IDK, the Hobbit is just my favourite book and would love more people to read it

@FairyRosee_ 3 жыл бұрын

"Excited for book three" of the Kingkiller Chronicles. Oh sweet summer child..

@Delthfaithe 3 жыл бұрын

Don´t trigger me......*sigh*.....

@bassguitar1919 3 жыл бұрын

This is what holds me back from reading The Name of the Wind.....I read all of Game of Thrones thinking surely at least one more book would come out during that time....eh no. I refuse to even think of touching King Killer Chronicle until he comes out with the 3rd installment.....whenever that is.

@georgethompson1460 3 жыл бұрын

@@calebmauer1751 Also the name of the wind is overrated in the first place so...

@pepperonipony1751 2 жыл бұрын

Legends say they were waiting for book three until the very end of their days.

@evavangelder4663 2 жыл бұрын

Sure I'd like for it to come out soon, but if an author isn't ready to bring it out, they aren't, if they're way too much of a perfectionist, so be it.

@sineadjenks5325 2 жыл бұрын

This was the first video I found on KZfaq of people talking about books. THIS is when I discovered booktube 2y ago and decided to read all the books on this list and follow you and Daniel. I've never looked back since. I watch both your videos religiously and have loved coming back to this first video of yours that I watched to reflect on how much you have both grown and encouraged my love of reading ❤️ I love you guys.

@liara3248 4 жыл бұрын

"If you haven't read Lord of the Rings I think you're a bad person" I like him.

@mrvulture8981 4 жыл бұрын

Daniel Greene is amazing. His channel is really good

@Noeton 4 жыл бұрын

@@zlee001 He did though :)

@jeffreylazarusbuggy4787 4 жыл бұрын

I read it like seven times, my alltime favorite.

@wabisabi7755 4 жыл бұрын

Lock me up for wickedness.

@fcv4616 4 жыл бұрын

I haven't read them yet, but I plan to. I guess I have some redemption in me, lol.

@MrHaganenoEdward 4 жыл бұрын

Levels of fantasy books based on reading difficulty: 1. Kid's first fantasy 2. Easy to get into 3. Intermediate 4. Advanced 5. Really advanced 6. What the hell is this???? 7. Please help me! 8. Why, oh god, why?!!! 9. I just can't anymore.... 10. Malazan book of the Fallen

@AlanDantes76 4 жыл бұрын

lol Agreed. Still trying to discover the will to start on Memories of Ice.

@StephSinalco 4 жыл бұрын

:D :D I'm reading the second book in the Malazan series and I won't lie : English not being my mother tongue, I'm struggling quite a lot... I had read the first one few years ago, read it again a second time (easier once you know the story), maybe I'll do the same with Deadhouse Gates

@glenndhorallmyxlvntx9294 4 жыл бұрын

LOL so true your list!

@AmberMarrrie 4 жыл бұрын

MrHaganenoEdward this made me laugh so much

@bobbybax2360 4 жыл бұрын

Speed readers beware! Unless you are the kind of person who can speed read Differential Equations.

@nikolayiliev8985 3 жыл бұрын

The Malazan book of the fallen series is hands down the most complicated fantasy series ever written IMO :)

@Kirovish Жыл бұрын

I used to think so too, but since then I read a couple of series that, well I wouldnt say are harder to read, but more harder to get a grasp on. The second aocalypse and Gene WOlf's books of the new sun series are two good examples of that.

@tevildo45 Жыл бұрын

Gene Wolfe is so good. He never gets a mention

@bullchargersc Жыл бұрын

I had to look at the character index constantly, also one of the few book series to get actual tears from me.

@djb16009 3 ай бұрын

Agree. Why is it hard/advanced? Many books in the series, each book is large. Massive cast. Keeping up with WoT or GoT is a piece of cake in comparison. No easing into the story, you just join in at a point in time and try to keep up. Non-linear time lines, the books jump around in terms of sequence of events. Overall plot I found to be a little hard to keep track of. There's not really good guys and bad guys as such, there's just complex characters and their individual motivations The reward for the pair of reading? Some of the best characters and scenes in Fantasy Bragging rights of actually having completed this series

@dusbus2384 3 жыл бұрын

I think reading the hobbit first in the LOTR series makes the books as a whole easier to read. I read the hobbit as a kid (which shows how easy it is to read/comprehend) and didn't read the rest of the series until high school after rereading the hobbit.

@merphynapier42 4 жыл бұрын

Be sure to check out the video we did together on Daniel's channel too! Also, if any of these books interested you, be sure to check out the links I left in the description! It took me a looooooong time to put them all there 😅

@ryanratchford2530 4 жыл бұрын

Merphy Napier 30 minutes of Daniel & merpht!!? Yes please

@johnsumner6593 4 жыл бұрын

That was great, too bad you too live so far away

@reetisarkar392 4 жыл бұрын

Hey Merphy, I'm trying to buy An Unkindness of Magicians through your link - the direct landing page is on the hardcover though? Do you know if it still counts as an affiliate sale if I thereby switch to a used paperback from that landing page? (I prefer to buy used books. It's an environment thing!)

@cremigproductions377 4 жыл бұрын

stop buying books on amazon. go to your local book store!

@NPC-hj4me 4 жыл бұрын

Merphy Napier, Do you have a thing for Daniel?

@unrulyjulie4382 4 жыл бұрын

To me, Tolkein's writing style is pure magic itself. It one of my favorite things about the whole LOTR world!

@christopherrowley7506 4 жыл бұрын

I really like that in LOTR the narrator has a real voice, it feels like you're being told a story. In some ways it also feels like you are reading an old primary source manuscript, and that adds a lot of immersion. I kind of hate that voiceless 3rd person limited viewpoint that has taken over in most modern fantasies: the authors don't care at all about style, only content. Lord of the Rings is poetic and quotable, Wheel of Time (as much as I love it) is neither of those things.

@unrulyjulie4382 4 жыл бұрын

@@christopherrowley7506 ... You are correct. The styles are very different. LOTR's after all is really The Red Book of Westmarch written by Bilbo and Frodo in narrative form. Hobbits have very poetic souls, as did Tolkien.

@buchdrache1409 4 жыл бұрын

@@christopherrowley7506 Hard agree!

@joeschmoe3665 4 жыл бұрын

Fully agree it's only growing as a gem since more and more modern fantasy adopt more accessible writing

@CoolAsianGuy 4 жыл бұрын

YES

@dubinmarks1 3 жыл бұрын

I tend to think of LOTR as Advanced but this is because I was introduced to it with reading the silmarillion as book 1... I regret nothing...

@leithagrover9116 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for including Narnia. I feel a lot of people forget about one of the best series ever.

@lostinabookcase3796 4 жыл бұрын

"Sticking with out Sanderson theme-" *Picks up Harry Potter*

@natyreadsbooks2484 4 жыл бұрын

lost in a booKCase i laughed so hard lol

@henrynelson176 4 жыл бұрын

complete opposite lol

@reesespisces9956 4 жыл бұрын

LOL

@thebookishmel 4 жыл бұрын

the two of you have SUCH a great dynamic filmimg together omg im disappointed i'm seeing this video a YEAR LATER and adore these recommendations!

@divyanshutiwari6344 4 жыл бұрын

Same

@indianflippingart9593 2 жыл бұрын

@@divyanshutiwari6344 hello tiwari ji

@divyanshutiwari6344 2 жыл бұрын

@@indianflippingart9593 ji aap kaun?

@sanjithechef 2 жыл бұрын

Just started the final empire in the mistborn trilogy because of this video. I listened to the first chapter through audiobook from the library, but now I own the novel and am really enjoying the second chapter. I’m glad you guys suggested it for beginners, otherwise I would have waited ages before attempting something so highly regarded

@totallysick88able 3 жыл бұрын

Reading WOT on a kindle makes it a lot easier. When I forget who a character is, I just click on then name and bam! I have everything I need to know

@crestfallenwarrior6996 3 жыл бұрын

I recently finished the first book and picked up the second. How are you liking WoT?

@totallysick88able 3 жыл бұрын

@@crestfallenwarrior6996 I’m hooked! In book two things really start to heat up.

@wilson1728 3 жыл бұрын

shit i need to try that I am so dumb

@atron1983 2 жыл бұрын

@@crestfallenwarrior6996 I read wot and while the first few books were good I found the rest brutal. This is just my personal opinion though yours may differ. I am an avid fantasy reader and I honestly don't know how this series became so popular besides the length of it. The last few books when Sanderson took over aren't too bad and I wouldn't go back in time and tell my past self not to read them but not the hype as what people claim.

@Zivilin 2 жыл бұрын

Personally i never had any problem following WoT when i read the series in early 2000s. I breezed though the books rather easily.

@hichellehakedal8883 4 жыл бұрын

Daniel's face when you bring out The King Killer series lol!

@merphynapier42 4 жыл бұрын

I know 😂

@DadTales 4 жыл бұрын

They are also my favourite and I was like him: "Yaaayyy Pat! Pat! Pat!". You both should try play Tak, the game of the book ;)

@1NOHERO 4 жыл бұрын

@@merphynapier42 that book got me into reading and since then i read 100s of books

@avijitklodh 4 жыл бұрын

I read almost every book in the video and they are all amazing but Kingkiller chronicle really captivates my heart, in a way no series ever has. Daniel's reaction is so relatable!

@snowrs1 4 жыл бұрын

That second book though, ugh

@JoeK7 4 жыл бұрын

This was amazing, so happy my favourite booktubers are collaborating with each other in person now! :D

@serareads9612 4 жыл бұрын

JK7. just came to comment the same thing 😂

@ANIMEGAMESBestforeverything 4 жыл бұрын

JK7. Yes

@ZedsDeadBaby117 4 жыл бұрын

yea the seemed to be having a great time and i was smiling along with them

@audmickey1307 3 жыл бұрын

You guys have great chemistry! You can tell that your good friends and bounce off each other well which makes the video really interesting to watch! Thank you for the list I'm really looking forward to checking some of these out and I'm glad you guys don't agree with everything because it gives different perspectives based on each book. Thank you again!

@LadyAmethyst100 3 жыл бұрын

So true about Sanderson . I consider myself an ‘average’ reader, when I picked up The Last Empire, man I flew that! It was just such an easy, believable read, I really enjoyed it. I got so hooked, I wanted to know more about the author’s other works, enter Stormlight Archive.

@carenzaspence1897 4 жыл бұрын

I grew up reading Pratchett, love so many of his books.

@erinaa9486 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah Pratchett is amazing!! Very much comic fantasy/satire though

@squngy0 2 жыл бұрын

@@erinaa9486 Pratchett is more of a fantasy/parody then a fantasy/satire. A parody is laughing with the original, a satire is laughing at it.

@rriggs6547 2 жыл бұрын

@@squngy0 Pratchett did a fair bit of both. Lots of parody and satire though the satire is often far more subtle.

@Kureabear 4 жыл бұрын

Personally I recommend Earthsea to everyone who wants to get into fantasy. The writing is beautiful!

@janiniweeny 4 жыл бұрын

I loved Earthsea aswell😊❤️

@pstandlee 3 жыл бұрын

It’s hands down the best fantasy writing besides Tolkien.

@catinthehat906 3 жыл бұрын

Agreed Ursula Le Guin was a genius- RIP. Two other recommendations for stories whose authors have sadly died in the last few years. Gene Wolfe- The Shadow of the Torturer and subsequent series- won the World Fantasy Award Julian May - The Many Colored Land and subsequent series ( although categorized by many as SF it is essentially fantasy).

@NekoMouser 3 жыл бұрын

I love Earthsea, too. And that it isn't your typical plot for fantasy, either, which is very nice.

@alwaysopen7970 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds gay.

@karamarie6781 2 жыл бұрын

Love this vid! The chemistry between you two is amazing!

@ColtonsHobbies 3 жыл бұрын

Because of your video I started Mistborn and I have now completed all of the cosmere books..... in the past year... I NEED MORE!

@rriggs6547 Жыл бұрын

Sanderson must have heard you. He revealed that he had a secret and was lying to us. So now we are getting a bunch more Cosmere next year.

@deanie3824 4 жыл бұрын

I love these chill videos. You've both mentioned so many of these books before but I like how you explained why to read them in a casual way. Like anyone could connect to and like these books.

@merphynapier42 4 жыл бұрын

So glad you liked it!

@TNorville101 4 жыл бұрын

I didn’t know much about fantasy, but have read “Kingkiller” and “Gentleman Bastards”, before I got to Mistborn. I was in NY for a work trip, and stopped at a Barnes N Nobles. I saw Mistborn, picked it up, and it opened up my world to so many great stories! It led me to WOT and StormLight Archives (naturally). Best random pick up of my life!

@evavangelder4663 2 жыл бұрын

I'm also standing up for Terry Pratchett here. I'm now at 28 out of >40 Discworld books and it just gets better with every book

@rriggs6547 2 жыл бұрын

I was not disappointed with any of his Discworld books. I am still looking for a copy of The Carpet People, but I have every other book of his.

@desireeparker656 Жыл бұрын

I read Hogfather as my first Pratchett. No regrets! I love the Wee Free Men and the Guilds and the Watchmen and the Witches and all the things that make up Discworld. I see his influence in other books and Tv shows sometimes

@suestreet9934 11 ай бұрын

Beginner to advanced fantasy and ‘I’ve never read any Terry Pratchett’?

@k.coleman9317 10 ай бұрын

Pratchett is too subtle for skippy up there in the video...he obviously doesn't get metaphor and allegory (Narnia), so the brilliant satire of Pratchett will pass him right by...

@MegaYoyo911 2 жыл бұрын

I am so glad you added The Dark Tower! Brilliant, epic, hardcore fantasy like you said 🙏

@colinjones5379 4 жыл бұрын

This is the high quality friendship I need in my fantasy books.

@SquashDog01 4 жыл бұрын

The lack of Jim Butcher (Dresden in particular) is really perplexing. I cant think of a more accessible fantasy book series than that. Funny, dark, intriguing; filled with extremely well written heroes, anti heroes, and villains, Dresden Files is one of the most well-read and popular fantasy books series in the genre. The books are basically "pulp-fantasy noir" (although that steadily changes over time as Harrys decisions continuously haunt him years after he makes them). Sanderson, and Gaiman I get as recommendations--but Butchers work (3 separate series so far) are all great, if not phenomenal.

@DJHobby 4 жыл бұрын

It's hard to include everything. We all have our favorites etc... I like the Dresden Files, it's kinda cheesy at times though, BUT.... The Codex Alera is one my favorite series of all time.

@zomgelok 4 жыл бұрын

I could never get into dresden files but codex of alera has to be in my top 3 of series. also if you never realized that the idea for codex started on a chat board where they were discussing what makes a book good. as in was it subject matter or the writing. so he took the concept of lost roman legion. which has been done successfully multiple times and combined it with something that at times is vilified in pokemon. you realize how great the series is.

@GloryofLlama 4 жыл бұрын

I liked his Codex series more; Dresden... has some issues for me. It's interesting, lacks the world building of other fantasy. Yes, it's set in modern Chicago, but even American Gods had amazing world building. I dunno, the whole magical Roman thing caught me more haha

@r.m.l.5487 3 жыл бұрын

The Witcher was my introduction into fantasy last year (if you don't count the childrens / YA books I read over 10 years ago). Really loved it and now I am enjoying other fantasy as well since the age of 25. Lot to catch up on :')

@Evanarix 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know why I took so long to watch this video. You're two of my favorite people on the internet

@morehbein6207 4 жыл бұрын

Perfect introduction in my opinion: Ranger's Apprentice

@tegelstenen4178 4 жыл бұрын

Read like 10+ of these as some of my first fantasy books, and it is still one of my favourite series

@tegelstenen4178 4 жыл бұрын

@ThePiedPiper And Piers It's set in a medieval setting with knights and rangers and monarchies and such, having, as you said, its own mythical creatures. It's set in another world with other sets of classes and professions and rules, so I'd say it's pretty much the archetype of a fantasy. A book doesn't have to be full of magic to be considered a fantasy.

@user-dc5xe9tv7n 3 жыл бұрын

@@tegelstenen4178 Its called medieval fiction...

@mkk3984 3 жыл бұрын

OMG YES. I love Ranger’s Apprentice, although I’m not exactly sure if most of it classifies as fantasy. I still am not over it

@ruud9761 3 жыл бұрын

Also a good book to get a young kid to read. Started reading it at age 10 and with harry potter it turned me into a lover of almost any good book.

@junkyardheaven 4 жыл бұрын

"His dark materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman is genious. Don't make the mistake of watching the movie-adaption of the first book, though. Awaiting the BBC/HBO series with terrified joy! :)

@fardareismai4495 4 жыл бұрын

The movie was aesthetically beautiful, I loved it for that, separate from the books, the books will always be better.

@ardin1437 4 жыл бұрын

I don't know why, but I didn't find that series particularly interesting. They were solid books, but not ones I would compliment or consider great.

@925263 4 жыл бұрын

They're average at best. Some SUPER boring parts of it that just dragged and dragged, and a ridiculously pathetic big bad

@nevillethedevil3041 4 жыл бұрын

I have all the series just haven’t gotten to it. Also, the movie isn’t that bad :)

@Mjot101 4 жыл бұрын

Totally agree, I read these books when I was really young so I don't remember enough to have a nuanced opinion but I remember loving them. I'm hoping the HBO show follows in the footsteps of my other favourite childhood books, A Series of Unfortunate Events. The movie for that was horrible, didn't capture the themes at all, made the most important character (Violet) completely useless and unimportant, and turned the villain into a completely comedic character with no dark/sinister side. The Netflix series completely made up for all that. It quickly became one of my favourite TV shows ever (although season 1 is a bit rough).

@mordyth 3 жыл бұрын

She's just so damn cute. And he's Daniel. What a combo

@coreyklaustermeier7329 3 жыл бұрын

Mordyth I know she always talks about how much she respects him, but when she does videos with him it seems like he annoys her. I don’t know for sure but that’s just how I see it.

@abeybekalu9536 3 жыл бұрын

@@coreyklaustermeier7329 Strange

@toenailairconditioner7406 3 жыл бұрын

Corey Klaustermeier I reckon it's just them being playful. I constantly annoy my friends but they keep me around.

@ozkan576 3 жыл бұрын

@@coreyklaustermeier7329 I don't get that vibe at all, pretty sure it's all just them goofing around

@matthewmeiring6521 3 жыл бұрын

I agree with Tony Phan and Ozkan, I think that the tension is really them just trying to keep the video serious, but it makes them look like they can't stand to be in the same room.

@roguetaco5487 2 жыл бұрын

I was a casual reader for years until covid. Now 2 years later, I consume all spectrum of fantasy books. Finding your video now, in 2022, I will definitely read some of the recommendations. Especially since you'll listed The Witcher as advanced. I was just curious about it when the Netflix show was coming out. I apparently jumped off the deep end on that one. Lol. It was sooo frustrating at first with the time jumping but I got it. I did burn myself with the epic fantasy novels because of it and went down the road of a fairy tale retellings... and some fantasy smut. (Like I said I enjoy all spectrum of fantasy). Your video definitely inspired me to jump back into epic / complex tales again.

@jpetersen749 4 жыл бұрын

Notice the shelves at 10:49 when she says "... Is up there with Sanderson" - Oathbringer and WoR tumble as if they heard it

@amusicalbookworm 4 жыл бұрын

“Daniel posts videos 6 days a week, cuz he’s insane.” “Actually, it’s 7.” “Are you serious?!” Lolol

@Ras137 4 жыл бұрын

"Daniel...Go Outside!"

@LH_Vagrant 3 жыл бұрын

Beginner: Hobb's Fitz nonology (Farseer trilogy, Tawny Man trilogy and Fitz and the Fool trilogy) In my opinion one of the finest fantasy series and certainly one suited to novice readers. The magic system isn't complicated, the politics aren't too dense and the main character is highly relatable. Since the series consists of three trilogies, it's not very daunting to start with. Intermediate: Jordan's WoT Lots of reading material with a plethora of names, extended plot lines and grand scale events. However, the number of *prominent* characters is somewhat limited, the magic system isn't too complicated and plot is easy to follow. Advanced: King's The Dark Tower Long, bizarre, even more bizarre and requires knowledge of King's other books to be fully appreciated. Luckily the number of characters is limited, the magic system is barely existent and the separate events in the story are fairly straightforward. Off the charts: Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen Long, half a million characters and plot lines, difficult to grasp, complicated magic/god system and did I mention there are a *KAJILLION* characters?

@thehybrid210 2 жыл бұрын

Could you tell me the other King books I'd have to read before The Dark Tower series?

@biscottone3357 2 жыл бұрын

Perfection!

@nicholastaylor9687 2 жыл бұрын

Three Trilogies for Hobb? Why are we ignoring the Liveship Traders trilogy and the Rainwild Chronicles?

@LH_Vagrant 2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholastaylor9687 Because, while those are series within the Realm of the Elderlings, they're not directly part of the Fitz series.

@taliabatten6042 Жыл бұрын

I personally think that while I adore hobbs fitz stuff, it's a intermidiate book because the first book is slow for a good couple chapters and I've read books way faster than it But once it gets started omfg it's the best

@christinedrab2310 2 жыл бұрын

First law world was my start into fantasy. I have reread them several times. Definitely my favorites

@Flying_Scotsman_1921 4 жыл бұрын

Malazan book of the fallen is amazing.. gets really good from book 3 onwards (although book 1 is still one of my favourites on the re-read). I also love Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy, fantasy at its best.

@mojopie 4 жыл бұрын

Only 5 minutes into this video so far but it's already a really fun one with great recommendations! I love that Daniel gushes about Good Omens for a hot sec because it's also one of my faves! And Neil Gaiman is a writing god in my opinion, I will always read and recommend his books! They're just so enjoyable

@mojopie 4 жыл бұрын

Just got to Merphy's Neil Gaiman gush, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is one of those books that slowly seeps into you, i didn't realise how much I was truly loving it until about halfway through, but only because I was too engrossed to notice 💜

@malphisto15 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome list. Subscribed. I’ve read most of these and agree with the list with ONE big exception. I’m on book 6 of Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It absolutely deserves a spot on any list, especially if we are setting aside a category for difficult or advanced books. Series has everything: best magic system I’ve read, amazing plot, great characters, etc. My mind is blown book after book, and after careful research, I know enough to know the final entry stuck the landing.

@sarahmaryja9762 2 жыл бұрын

I really loved watching this video! It convinced me to pick up Mistborn and even though I am only on chapter 2 I am already seriously hooked- I forsee a whole lot more of Sanderson and other Fantasy in my future reading :))

@jothoma 4 жыл бұрын

I'm surprised that David Eddings or Raymond E Feist didn't appear on the list as beginner fantasy. They were my gateway into Fantasy when I was a teen (and to a lesser degree was Piers Anthony, although his books have not aged well IMHO).

@russelladams9147 4 жыл бұрын

They were eating PPJ's in grade school not that long ago - so...

@DM-fp8uw 4 жыл бұрын

Probably because they don’t hold up well today. Belgariad especially.

@Mike_W78 4 жыл бұрын

@@DM-fp8uw I kinda agree with Eddings but Feist series are still pretty good. The last few trilogies are bit out there but the rift war and serpent war are really good.

@johnnygirling55 4 жыл бұрын

How the Diamond Throne didn't make the list is a travesty!

@TaivenJanick 4 жыл бұрын

agreed - the Belgariad should have made the list too

@ericbraun8855 4 жыл бұрын

You two are a light hearted, buddy cop movie, waiting to happen! Thank you for your work!

@jiunjuan 3 жыл бұрын

Daniel, "That is a fact of life." Merphy, with a HUGE smile, "Disagree!" Love it!

@travisjohnson18 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Merphy and Daniel. Because of this video I am reading sufficiently advanced magic and I really like it. Whoever is reading this have a good day.

@cassandrac7491 4 жыл бұрын

The fact that my two favourite booktubers are friends has me dYiNg I love you guys so much

@hulkslayer626 4 жыл бұрын

LOVE the Wheel of Time! Found book 5 for sale used and thought it looked interesting. Then realized it was a part 5... so got the first 4 and read 1-5. Then re-read 1-5 when 6 came out. Then re-read 1-6 when 7 came out, and so on and so on. Read the whole series at least 3 times through, and have skimmed the series at least another 5 or 6 times. So great.

@jacobyrassilon 4 жыл бұрын

I read "The Eye of the World" on the plane back from Saudi Arabia after the first Gulf War (yea, I'm old, sue me!) and was hooked forever more. It is my second favorite series of all times behind LOTR. I'm scared of what Amazon will do with the TV series, but hoping for the best.

@navystylz 4 жыл бұрын

Loved Wheel of Time until I read more books. Good series, but gets bloated and repetitive and then just got plain bored. Sanderson finishing them picked the pace back up for me.

@eldrava 3 жыл бұрын

Tried The First Law series after this and loved it, my new favorite series alongside the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Currently trying to get into the Wheel of Time and look forward to seeing how it goes. Anyway, just came back to say thanks for the suggestions, have a good one!

@vic70ria 3 жыл бұрын

So I was just watching this casually. But I enjoy both of you and together it’s magic!

@booknerdwithlipstick 4 жыл бұрын

Such a good video ! Having both your different perspectives on books give such a more complete portrait of the recommendations and makes it so richer (and entertaining). 💕

@merphynapier42 4 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it!

@Luke-nn4pm 4 жыл бұрын

“Brandon, go outside.” That particular comment didn’t age well

@depapa701 4 жыл бұрын

🤣

@paulbreakable3302 4 жыл бұрын

why? can you explain that please?

@technicaldeathmetalhead 4 жыл бұрын

@@paulbreakable3302 Coronavirus .. you must be from Arrakis

@kohakuaiko 3 жыл бұрын

You can still go outside; you just have to avoid people.

@sf808yt 3 жыл бұрын

@@kohakuaiko my life. every day. :)

@BessmaITube 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! For that!! I've been struggling with books that I find kind of difficult to follow, which would make a 50 page run extremely difficult for me and hence made me sway away from reading because I only seem to choose advanced english books, and your description isdetailed enough for me to know where to start now... I love both your channels, both of you have been extremely helpful to me, and I find myself enjoying your opinions although I've not read most of these books yet, lol. Peace!

@cassidychivers 3 жыл бұрын

I feel like we need an updated list for the two of you!!! or even sic-fi!

@melc5038 4 жыл бұрын

I looooove this format of contents! do more pls both of you guys :) Well done And! thanks for categorizing these books! It can change the order of my TBR tbh! thanks again

@felipealonso7859 4 жыл бұрын

I started reading fantasy with ASOIF and then I got into Malazan ... I regret nothing , great reads , specially Malazan , I'm still reading into the Malazan world.

@Velsero 3 жыл бұрын

As someone who thinks the MBotF is an outstanding series I've read through twice and listened through twice, A.) I do not love the series. Those are not tears of joy it is milking, and B.) I never recommend it to anyone. I do say "it's a phenomenal series, but Erikson is like if Ayn Rand wanted you to be a good, compassionate person. Erikson hates cruelty, and wants you to hate it, too. Try it, start with the second and third books, and do it audio. Erikson is better heard than read. If you don't like those, you wont like any, and end the relationship."

@dougkelly8956 3 жыл бұрын

@@Velsero Interesting. This is literally the first time I've seen anyone say that Malazan is even viable on audiobook, let alone better. The consensus is generally that it's complicated enough that keeping track of things in a one-shot format is tough - you generally have to scan back and re-read sections etc. I may finally be heading into a phase of my life that I can give Malazan a shot, but we'll see.

@purusingh6085 3 жыл бұрын

When I finished the video , I felt something strange about me because I have read 4 of the 5 advanced category series before reading a majority of the beginner and intermediate category books.

@quintenvanveen3031 3 жыл бұрын

This video got me into wheel of time. And I’m loving it!

@alioc3298 3 жыл бұрын

Ahhhhh yes FINALLY you mention Terry!! He’s fantastic and I miss him so much :,(

@leslieisepic 4 жыл бұрын

I love the Broken Earth trilogy! I read the first book last summer, then I read books 2 & 3 earlier this year back to back. Each book flows seamlessly into the next so that it really just feels like one long novel. Highly recommend it. Best adult dystopian I've read and it'd be hard to top it.

@Yotanido 4 жыл бұрын

22:35 Actually it's " *A* Game of Thrones" Sorry

@captainblubber 4 жыл бұрын

Great job! I actually wanted to make that comment...

@BenDover-fo3bi 4 жыл бұрын

Who cares

@bughead5615 4 жыл бұрын

*YES!*

@bughead5615 4 жыл бұрын

@@BenDover-fo3bi lol I do

@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244 3 жыл бұрын

Finally! Someone did mention it because it irk me

@laura_h383 3 жыл бұрын

Mistborn is honestly my favorite series even though I have read every book in this video and many more. It is just so beautiful and amazing and I love it soooooooo much

@DonovanGG__ 10 ай бұрын

Yeah Mistborn is amazing, its my 3rd favorite behind Stormlight Archive and Lord of the Rings

@darindaxd 10 ай бұрын

How about broken earth???

@rev.enant73 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely should have included Malazan Book of the Fallen in Advanced, also think Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn would fit well in the Advanced category.

@atharvadeshpande4749 2 жыл бұрын

Both of them had not read Malazan at the time. And neither of them probably not read Tad Williams.

@Booksandheather 4 жыл бұрын

Pausing the video at Narnia to pass my two cents: I kinda agree that it hasn't aged well in regards to what is currently on the market. However, I read the entire series, from beginning to end, to my fifth grade class two years ago. This class hated reading so much but they'd beg to bring their lunch to the classroom to hear more. I just had a former student from that class find me on IG and send me a message that he is going through the hardest time in his life right now, but he remembered Narnia and has reread the series and now wants more fantasy. I think it is an excellent door for children, even if it fails in comparison as an adult reader. WITH THE EXCEPTION of The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle. I think those two could team up and fight with some of the greats. :)

@johanjarvinen 4 жыл бұрын

David Eddings is another who should be still counted among the great introductions to Fantasy. Especially if you've got young family members who you don't think are ready for more adult themes. I'm personally more partial to the Elenium and Tamuli series but I suspect the Belgariad and it's sequel Malloreon is the better place to start for a teenager looking to get into fantasy.

@mpjedi2355 4 жыл бұрын

Other then comments i never hear a word about David Eddings! It is the series that got me into fantasy. My comfort read for decades!

@themetalpig7613 4 жыл бұрын

Nah, start with Elenium... Sparhawk rules! His standalone The Redemption of Althalus is apparently decent too, on my tbr list.

@LoyaFrostwind 4 жыл бұрын

Eddings is classic fantasy. I remember reading these in the 80s.

@mpjedi2355 4 жыл бұрын

These millennials don’t know what they are missing.

@LoyaFrostwind 4 жыл бұрын

@@mpjedi2355 , I know, right?

@smithlady 3 жыл бұрын

Malazan should be labeled “beyond advanced”

@pagreg888 3 жыл бұрын

You guys should read Realm of the Elderlings. I've read most of the books in your list and I can safely say that (besides LotR which gave me the fantasy hunger when I was young) the most memorable series I've read would be this. I tend to forget most things I read but somehow a lot of it has imprinted in my mind through the years. Amazing characters, huge world and an extreme emotional rollercoaster.

@jefferyedoherty 4 жыл бұрын

Merphy, The Graveyard Book is brilliant. I read it and thought, "I will never be this good as a writer."

@jamieserrano827 4 жыл бұрын

As an introduction to urban fantasy the Dresden files is great, because it mixes your standard poke detective novel with a dash of magic

@steveexotic1825 2 жыл бұрын

I read all the way up to Changes and got bored.

@rriggs6547 2 жыл бұрын

@@steveexotic1825 I threw my book when I read the last couple paragraphs of Changes.

@JacksLoom Жыл бұрын

First Law is indeed amazing! i am just reading the last book. I love how he adapts his writing style to the characters. How he connects a character needing to pee just before the killing starts and uses it later as a trigger for the reader: You read a scene completely disconnected from violent acts and then he drops "he needed to pee badly" and you immediately think "damn, shits going wild now!". Genious move Mr. Abercrombie!

@Daniel-fu9zt Жыл бұрын

hey Lukas I've read a preview of the blade itself and really enjoyed. I haven't read alot of fantasy just wondering should I continue as a beinnger to the genre thanx

@bramvanduijn8086 Жыл бұрын

@@Daniel-fu9zt I'm not Lukas, but if you liked the preview then you will like the entire book and most of the other books by Abercrombie. Abercrombie has very consistent readability.

@Daniel-fu9zt Жыл бұрын

@@bramvanduijn8086 thanx ive being reading Mistborn first but Mr Abercrombie is still on the tbr:)

@Bhavyo Жыл бұрын

I think "Glockta" ist one of the best fantasy characters ever written! "First Law" is amazing, it ranks top3 in my fanatsy list.

@Makkuvideos 3 жыл бұрын

love you guys together. your personalities work well for these types of videos. y’all could make a sweet podcast

@007scraps 4 жыл бұрын

Robin Hobb's three trilogies based on FitzChivalry and the Fool are excellent. In addition, Raymond E Feist's Riftwar series based on Pug and subsequent series are quite excellent too.

@Skabanis 4 жыл бұрын

I read feists books 30 years ago

@pipparoberts7130 4 жыл бұрын

I hated Robin Hobbs ' books. Read the trilogy about the assassin's apprentice, and found them really lonely, sad, horrible books...

@thehoogard 4 жыл бұрын

Sorry but I can't stand the riftwar books. The only goods ones are in the collab with Janny Wurts, The Daughter of The Empire books. Those are excellent.

@Covenantt666 4 жыл бұрын

@@pipparoberts7130 Then don't read any of the other series, cause there all lonely and sad. That's whats make 'em good. :-)

@Covenantt666 4 жыл бұрын

The Riftwar is a superb series. The problem I have with his later books is that they're very uneven. Both between books and in them. He's written some really good ones but also some "meh".

@saraangel6696 4 жыл бұрын

I am finally getting back to reading after YEARS of studying and being so tired after reading that the last thing i wanted to do was read in the first place, and I am adding all these books to my list, probably in that order (might skip a few, like narnia and game of thrones) , but yeah, i loved this video!

@luminyam6145 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry about the harsh comment, I am anxious to read them. This was an excellent video, both of you are so knowledgeable , it is a real pleasure learning about these stories. Thank you.

@samspectre2911 2 жыл бұрын

Im not sure if anyone watched sourcefed back in that channels hay day, but you two give me sourcefed vibes and I love it

@lesterismyname 4 жыл бұрын

Malazan and Black Company. Both solid. Dresden Files is also worth reading through. Especially with the next book coming out soon.

@naseemnasir 4 жыл бұрын

Very surprised that the Malazan books are not in the list. Maybe the presenters haven't read them?

@bramvanduijn8086 Жыл бұрын

@@naseemnasir The list only goes up to advanced, Malazan is quite a bit higher than that. Though it might be because I started in the middle. Toll The Hounds, IIRC.

@allypotter4404 4 жыл бұрын

I have recently finished N.K. Jemisin's 'Broken Earth' Trilogy, and I definitely agree that it is difficult to read. Whilst in is absolutely phenomenal, you don't actually get the full picture of the world until maybe 50 pages out from the end of the third book. But it was an incredible read, and now one of my all-time favourite fantasy series.

@corinnelopez66 3 жыл бұрын

I hope you mention the Land of Oz books. They’re absolutely entertaining and unexpectedly clever.

@knitty781 Жыл бұрын

I know this is an older video, but I still enjoyed it. I am always interested in new fantasy worlds. Many of these series I've not heard of before. Thanks!

@SpencerJ289 4 жыл бұрын

I hear at Barnes and Nobles if you buy the first 2 Kingkiller books they give you the 3rd for free right then and there

@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564 4 жыл бұрын

Spencer Jones, ha ha....

@Kungen940127 4 жыл бұрын

You shouldn’t skip the songs in LOTR! There’s a lot of history in them, and you get an insight into the cultures that produced them!

@merphynapier42 4 жыл бұрын

I knew I would get this comment 😂

@derekdurst9216 4 жыл бұрын

There’s a channel called Clamavi de Profundis that does a great job of taking the songs from the books and singing them. Definitely check them out, they are great

@happyreadingwatching1597 4 жыл бұрын

@@merphynapier42 nah I skip songs and poems all the time :)

@leithskilling552 4 жыл бұрын

Oscar Nilzen love the songs, but I understand why a lot of people prefer to skip over them. But some of them are so beautiful, such as Bilbo’s “I Sit Beside The Fire”.

@ind1gnat1on 4 жыл бұрын

I would say reread with the songs after you’ve read The Silmarillion

@NancyLebovitz 3 жыл бұрын

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin is a good beginner book. Set on a world with no connection to ours-- it's all small islands. Ged is a young man with magical talent-- magic comes from knowing true names. He makes one mistake early on, and spends the book dealing with it. There are dragons.

@DavePuckett 2 жыл бұрын

I usually read Horror stories and novels but found both of your analyses of the Fantasy genre interesting and now I'm wanting to start reading some.

@gp365y 4 жыл бұрын

Great vid. *Dragonlance* was my fantasy series. Made me a book lover for life.

@Darrkness 4 жыл бұрын

Same here. I love DragonLance. (And Larry Elmore's artwork)

@sabrevanson4412 4 жыл бұрын

I loved so so many of those I have over 100 on my book shelves

@BEATRIIIZOLAAA 4 жыл бұрын

Loved this video, very insightful. I would also HIGHLY recommend the Earthsea books!

@canonicall 2 жыл бұрын

The way of Kings has some of the best moments I have ever encountered in a book. Kaladin goes down as one of my all time favorite characters because of this. Still following the series so we'll have to wait and see if he stays as great of a character as we all want him to be.