looking for a good fantasy book to read?

Question

about 300+ words. im 14, so i like reading books aimed for young adults. it can have romance or whatever other genre in as well.

sorry - 300+ pages

Answer 1

try the northern lights trilogy by philip pullman. I think waterstones have them on a three for two offer at the minute. It's about a parallel world to our own but much more interesting. I'm 25 and couldn't put it down. I recently asked a question about the authour, check the answers given on my profile if you need any convincing.

Happy reading.

Answer 2

Of recent (last 20 years say) fantasy genre there are loads to choose from. The two authors that I have read and then gone back to on more than one occasion are David Eddings "The Belgariad" & the follow up "The Mallorean". Ten books in total following a common thread, plenty of action, wonderful narrative and the same for the descriptive as well. Characters in abundance both lead and supporting; it is what fantasy is about. The other is the "Riftwar Saga" by Raymond E. Feist which comprise initially 3 books Magician, Silverthorn & A Darkness at Sethanon. Like the predecessor full of colour and life and you can put yourself in the environment without too much effort.
However, if you have not already read it , "The Hobbit" by J R R Tolkien and the "prequel" to "Lord of the Rings" is stunning. Not too long (unlike this answer) and imagery that makes you read it again & again; in fact I have started reading it to my son and he is hooked. Enjoy and then move on and keep reading!

Answer 3

The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin is fantastic, I think I was about 14 the first time I read it.

The David Eddings Belgariad series (first book the Pawn of Prophecy) is also excellent, and as other people have mentioned although this is found in the adult section it is well written and easy to follow.

Other people have recommended Robin Hobb who is a great writer but her books are rather longer and a bit more involved, so you might want to see how you find reading the Belgariad first.

The Lord of The Rings is also fantastic, I think I was about your age when I first read it but it is very long (I think it took me about half a year to finish it that first time). It is definately worth the commitment if you can get through it (if you can make it through the first few chapters you'll get hooked).

Enjoy.

Oh and you have to try some of Dianne Wynn Jones books, they are aimed at young adults and are fantastic, I still enjoy them now.

Answer 4

The Philip Pullman books are great. The 'His Dark Materials' trilogy of 'Northern LIghts', 'The Subtle Knife' and 'The Amber Spy Glass' are great. If you want a laugh with your fantasy, then go for Terry Pratchett. Also there is a set of five books by an author called Susan Cooper which I enjoyed greatly when around that age, they are 'Over Sea, Under Stone', 'The Dark Is Rising', 'Greenwitch', 'The Grey King' & 'Silver on the Tree', you could give those a try. While checking out the correct titles of the Susan Cooper books I found this website which might give you some ideas too: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/.

Happy reading!

Answer 5

Hi there. Apart from the Tolkein classics, which are a must, for a teenager I would go for:-
The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. The True Game trilogy by Sheri Tepper. The Amber series by Roger Zelazny.
I see David Eddings "Belgariad" has been recommended, that is good, likewise the "Magician" trilogy by Raymond Feist. Stay well away from "Sophies World" for now (he probably thinks he is funny, that guy!). The first 9 Xanth books by Piers Anthony are well worth the effort, too. The Artemis Fowl books are probably too young for you, although good. Terry Pratchett can be difficult, start with "Guards! Guards!" and see if it grabs you.
If you are still keen after that lot, try the Phillip Pullman, but be aware that the third book of his "Dark Materials" trilogy is much worse than the first two.
Good luck, Steve.

Answer 6

Check out the sagas by Raymond E Feist , The Riftwar Saga & The Serpentwar Saga . The first book in the Riftwar Saga is called Magician . It centres around two young boys , PUG & THOMAS . PUG becomes the most powerful magician in the kingdom while THOMAS becomes the consort to the Elf Queen . It is humourous and spell-binding and when you have finished the first book you just can't wait to start the next . It has a mixture of just about everything in it and is a must read for anyone with a good imagination , a sense of humour and who likes Fantasy in the form of Sword and Sorcery ( it even has a dragon ) .

Answer 7

Try the Xenogenesis series by Octavia E. Butler

Her books are sci-fi fantasy but not the typical type by any means. I have to admit, as a male, I was a little biased going into her books. I was greatley surprized. What a brillinat imagination.

This is from Wikipedia:

Xenogenesis
Butler began her Xenogenesis trilogy in 1987. The three works which comprise the trilogy, Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago, tell the story of Lilith (modeled after the myth of Lilith, the first wife of Adam) who is abducted by extraterrestrials (the Oankali) after a nuclear war on earth, and the children she consequently has (the Oankali are notable for having a plausible third gender, known as ooloi). The entire series was released in 2000 as the single volume, Lilith's Brood.

Answer 8

The Earthsea trilogy by Ursula LeGuin
His Dark Materials triology by Phillip Pullman
Eragon and Eldest, Christopher Paolini

And if you want to read slightly longer books - which will be rewarding:

Magician by Raymond Feist
The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien
The Belgariad, David Eddings.

For something a bit more comical but a darn good read nevertheless, ANYTHING by Terry Pratchett.

Answer 9

'The portable door' by Tom Holt. He does tend to concentrate on the boring bits no one wants to read about and he doesn't seem to like writing fast paced bits in a particularly fast paced way but his storylines are great and this one is no exception. On the same note don't read 'snow white and the seven samurai' by the same author. You kind of get the feeling that he took on a project that was far greater than he could successfully write about.

Other than that, anything by Terry Pratchett in the Discworld series. In particular the ones with the Watchmen, they tend to be the funniest. Although saying that, 'Going Postal' is probably the best one he's ever come up with, or even 'Reaper Man', which has got Death in it, easily the best character of them all, with Arch Chancellor Ridcully as a close second. Both these titles don't contain the Watchmen, or if they do, (it's hard to remember,) they don't have big parts.

Answer 10

Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Here There Be Dragons by James A. Owen


Robin McKinley
Donna Jo Napoli
Jane Yolen

Answer 11

I read a book called The Floating Island, by Elisabeth Hayden. It was a very good book. I don't know how long it was, it was pretty short. maybe around 250-300 pages. Its a really great book. I also recommend the Lord Of The Rings trilogy if you can get through them, they are great. The Hobbit is the book before them Thats my favorite!

Happy Reading!!!

~Christian