The characters were compelling, but the plot was throwing in several kitchen sinks and nothing seemed to hang together logically. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Martin himself has cited Williams as an influence over his own epic fantasy series. Even for someone like me (i.e. The slow burn of the build in this series comes to a boiling point with brilliantly paced action separated by beautiful, quiet description. I'm looking for something similar. These two characters (who shall remain unnamed because SPOILERS) are really well written. To help you get over this lull, we have put together a list of, full of action, drama, and some pretty fantastic. The story begins with the French King Philip the Fair, who brings a curse upon his family. While some in the group face epic battles, others must wrestle against their personal demons and complete smaller (but still no less important) quests that will determine the fate of their world. but more on that in a moment. Hes ruled by his own insecurities, which are fuelled and manipulated by Geders most trusted friend: Basrahip, the spider-priest pulling Geders strings in an attempt to turn Camnipol into a platform for the chaotic cult of the spider goddess.
It's not as traditional as the Dagger and the Coin, though. The series follows the story of Simon, a young kitchen worker from the castle, who, as an apprentice to the League of the Scroll, becomes involved in the events that seek to confront the enemy that threatens his land. . Perhaps we might see a spinoff at some point in the future, Mr. 100+ books a year, mostly fiction. Daniel Abraham is the author of the critically acclaimed Long Price Quartet. The Widow's House: 4 (Dagger and the Coin). Is it a standalone? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Unlike many other fantasy novels, where the end goal is to defeat the opposing forces and sustain the statu-quo, in Acacia the characters goal is to change the world for the better for everybody. . So. Translated from French, there are seven books to this series and over sixty characters to follow with plenty of intrigue, drama, battles, deception, rivalry, lies, and lust. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Upon Googling I realize I've seen Elliot's books before but never picked one up. In a world that was once ruled by dragons, thirteen races now exist together. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. If youre a fan of complex worldbuilding, ancient magic, political and moral dilemmas, and morally ambiguous characters, this is a series that will keep you turning pages until the very end. : The world of The Dagger and the Coin seems to exist in spite of the story, not because of it. Also, adding to the 'Read more GGK' recommendations. The Traitor Baru Cormorant is an epic geopolitical fantasy about one woman's mission to tear down an empire by learning how to rule it. Trust real people, not robots, to give you book recommendations. I suspect that the relatively slow pace is the main reason many people arent blown away by the series early on, and its true that neither The Dragons Path nor The Kings Blood could ever be described as rip-roaring. Parker does a lot of the same level sociopolitical and character work that Abraham does.
It's almost historical fiction with just a touch of magic bringing it into fantasy. Takes 30 seconds! Looking through some other threads posted today it looks like there is someone going through and down-voting everything. I'm a pretty fast reader so I'll check out the first one, but would be interested in what your issues were with the series as a whole. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2014. The Widow's House is Book 4 of 5 in The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham. even after spending five books in their company, and even when their actions are in no way at odds with what we know about them as a character), and the writing style remains as engaging as ever. 
The story is told through the point of view of several characters, including both protagonists and antagonists, giving readers a well-rounded view of the events taking place. 
Fun fact: the titles for all three of the books in this series have literary origins. This thread of the story focuses entirely on economics, and is well written and original. The Spiders War is certainly one of the strongest Dagger and Coin instalments, and is pretty much everything you could ask for in a finale. [] (Editors note: I absolutely agree!) Go ad-free with a FictionDB premium membership. Still want more? 2014 RT Reviewers Choice Award -- Epic Fantasy Novel. I think I read there's a sequel to this that's been announced? . i have read all of long price, all of published dagger/coin, have not read mistborn. Already embarked on radically divergent paths, events soon begin to shape their thoughts and personalities in very different ways that nonetheless force both to shed their innocent navet. 
Fans of fantasy, science fiction, horror, alt history, and more can all find a home with us. George R.R. If you're on the fence as to which great fantasy series to pick up next, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to get a personalized fantasy book recommendation. 
So why not explore the series that may have helped shaped A Song of Ice and Fire? Last but not least, Last Argument of Kings is from a quote inscribed on Louis XIVs cannons. Abraham sacrifices clarity at the beginning in order to convey the diversity of his world in a more organic way, and I guarantee it wont be long before youre familiar with all thirteen races: pale, slender Cinnae and black, chitinous Timzinae; sharp-toothed Tralgu and tusked Yemmu; otter-pelted Kurtadam and the elusive Drowned. Also the Chalion series by Lois Bujold. 
We welcome respectful dialogue related to speculative fiction in literature, games, film, and the wider world. In the past few years I've read Game of Thrones (loved the world building and overall storytelling, started & finished between seasons 1 & 2 of the TV series), Rothfuss (loved the prose, story was good), Tigana (loooved it), and my favorite so far, Dagger & the Coin. This monumental series is the product of two authors: Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont. which, while positive, is about as lukewarm as praise gets.
When she isnt working on a manuscript or writing for the Hive, you're most likely to find her on Twitter, playing Dragon Age, or hoarding polyhedral dice. You definitely wont run out of reading material any time soon. . He also writes as MLN Hanover and (with Ty Franck) James S.A. Corey. Press J to jump to the feed. but not so in our Dagger and Coin river. He lives in New Mexico. Be warned that this series is not really for the faint of heart, and contains a great deal of violence and abuse that some may not enjoy. Meanwhile, the insidious currents of treachery finally start to draw the other PoVs together. I just read a little about Goblin Emperor and will definitely give it a try. The characters are developed consistently and intriguingly (although, amazingly, they can still surprise us . But theres a turning point around the halfway mark when The Tyrants Law starts to thrum with a real sense of urgency, and the final quarter begins a brilliantly tense convergence between two of the characters. Try The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker perhaps. In a way, this is Batman gone wrong: instead of a childs tragic life taking them on the path of righteousness, it drags them on the path of pure and unadulterated evil. . Too tropey, predictable, poor prose, weak characters, something else? It's always intrigued me, but I've never really known where to start, and in early forays into the genre (10+ years ago), I evidently didn't try the right stuff, was probably a little intimidated, and went back to what I typically read (mysteries, crime, literary fiction, etc). Not much action or battles. But have you ever wondered what would happen if the hero fails? Have you read Abraham's other series Long Price Quartet? Cithrins chapters are often the most interesting: I mentioned earlier that she is the coin in The Dagger and the Coin, and she uses manipulation and money (rather than force) to undermine her enemies. 
I'm going to throw Last Song Before Night into the ring here as well. , Paperback but the real darling of The Widows House is Clara. I'm surprised at the lack of love for this series in this thread, but personally I loved it. Just as you think youre nearing the mouth you realise too late that theres one more unseen waterfall. I want to learn more about the series, but I am very wary of running into spoilers inadvertently.
(Its called the dagger and coin series, after all.). She's written. He doesnt dazzle us with descriptions or confuse us with cleverness. The Spider's War: Book Five of the Dagger and the Coin, The Tyrant's Law: Book 3 of the Dagger and the Coin, The King's Blood: Book 2 of the Dagger and the Coin, The Dragon's Path: Book 1 of The Dagger and the Coin, Age of Ash: The Sunday Times bestseller - The Kithamar Trilogy Book 1. What I like most about Daniel Abrahams writing is his clean, engaging style. Harry defeated Voldemort. Unable to add item to List. r/Fantasy is the internet's largest discussion forum for the greater Speculative Fiction genre. This review relates to all five books in the `Dagger and Coin' series. I highly recommend Daniel Abrahams work to any and all readers of SFF, and Ill certainly be taking a look at his Long Price Quartet in the near future. Probably objectively better than the latter series in a lot of ways but I enjoyed them both. Long Price is a definite. Thanks for the thoughts. It is also a standalone - for now - with a great ending that could go further when she returns to the world, or could be left alone and still be satisfying. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. Actually, all of the criteria I mentioned stemmed from my reading of The First Law. I agree Mistborn may not work. Luckily, Ive got the perfect metaphor to carry us through this one . (For those who are interested, Abraham actually has a handy guide on his website creatively presented as a historical record!). Nowhere is this more apparent than the final book. 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, The Widow's House (Dagger and the Coin Book 4), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Deep, complex characters, but not too many of them (5 main povs), some moral greyness on all sides of conflict, focus on politics and relationships.
I've read some good books lately, including several in this genre, but as soon as I began The Widow's House I recognised the step change from good to great. The Dragons Path does an excellent job of setting future events in motion, and in hindsight gives the reader some intriguing hints about the bigger picture. : Please try again. , Dimensions New books are added every day. No power has withstood him, except for the heart of the one woman he desires. Author Spotlight - D.P.
If you're a fan of fantasy you'll be a fan of these, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2018. : The Lord Regent is child-like and peevish, petulant and bitter .
The man has never written a book I didn't like, and his Sarantine Mosaic books are sublime. Picks up the pace again and keeps revealing things are more complicated than you thought, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2014. (I can't remember if there is much romance but the characterization and story are great.). We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 January 2015, Love love love this series, I'm just mad they aren't all out yet as I've devoured the ones that are! Any good? It is Asian influenced and a really great series. They co-created the world, but each wrote different stories that takes place within it. It's about a crew of the airship Ketty Jay, an assortment of misfits and runaways who, by force of necessity, must work together on the Ketty Jay. I'm from NY so the setting intrigues me. Clara Kalliam, the loyal traitor, is torn between the woman she once was and the woman she has become. It really is compelling to see how Geder blinded by good intentions and personal insecurity drags an entire country along behind him as he stumbles over the edge of each waterfall. The Widows House may have lulled us into believing that The Spiders War will be a quick, smooth strait that takes us through to the end . This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. In The Dragons Path,both were likeable for different reasons, but now were presented with a new side of them. 
I'm open to pretty much anything, not against classic medieval stuff but open to other flavors too, including sci-fi. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2022.
With your criteria I would suggest The Dragon Prince trilogy by Melanie Rawn and also second Kushiel's Dart by Jacquiline Carey. If you're a big fan of character, emotion, and a side of romance, go with anything written by Carol Berg. Abraham is one of the better fantasy writers when it comes to characterization. Does someone have a burning hatred of Abraham? .
. yet strangely sympathetic at the same time. Oh, and I read a couple books of Wheel of Time, which I enjoyed, but I'm not sure I enjoyed enough to go all the way through right now. First, heres a quick introduction for those whore not familiar with the series. However, much rarer (and arguably more special) are the voices and the tales that we choose to revisit. Both are focused on politics and their impact on interpersonal relationships. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The Dagger and the Coin is a fantasy quintet that blends myth, violence and political intrigue to create an entertaining and thought-provoking tale about what can happen when absolute power is placed in the hands of one man. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Where J.R.R. There isnt much else I can say without repeating myself. Moreover, he also takes the time to thoroughly wrap up surviving characters story arcs in a variety of (mostly) satisfying ways, striking a fine balance between breathless action and patient closure. This is a somewhat qualified recommendation, as I have some issues with this series, myself, but you might enjoy Greg Keyes' Kingdom of Thorn and Bone. 'The Folding Knife' is a solid standalone/style entree. No matter, though, because theres another character in The Kings Blood who may surprise you. And having finished The Spiders War I know for a certainty that Ill be returning to Cithrin, Clara, Geder and co. in the future.
Reason I loved that series so much, I think, is that (for me) it was a good 1st-level fantasy -- not too many characters, light world building (although I would have liked more), pretty easy-to-follow plots, but still an overall epic feel. What is going on with the down votes in this topic, by the way? Marcus' hero days are behind him. Laura also writes LitRPG under the pen name Demi Harper; her first novel, GOD OF GNOMES, was published in September 2019. Abraham demonstrates how alternating PoVs should be used: switching back and forth with skill and cunning, heightening tension and uncertainty in the build-up to the big finish.
But even as conquest follows conquest, the final victory retreats before him like a mirage. 
But Abercrombie takes their disturbing and antagonistic traits and turns his characters into true anti-heroes, compelling readers to care about them and about their fates. I have not read the other two mentioned. That might explain why the adjective I see most often used to describe the Dagger and Coin series is good . Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader. And to Contrarius, could you tell me why you didn't continue with Dagger and Coin? If you want length, development, and a maze of story arcs, then Jordans fourteen-book epic fantasy series will do the trick. Aside from his agreeable prose, another distinguishing feature of Abrahams writing is his depiction of female characters something that he also carries over into The Expanse, his co-written SF series published under the pen name James S.A. Corey. The ambiguity of the characters and the fallout from their decisions not to mention the readers conflicted emotional response to certain characters story arcs creates a darker tone than book one, seeping subtly into the narrative and setting the mood for the rest of the series. He also writes urban fantasy as M. L. N. Hanover and (with Ty Franck) space opera as James S. A. Corey. The Blade Itself comes from the quote, The blade itself incites to deeds of violence, by Homer. Thanks in advance! . If thats not intriguing enough for you, its followed by his attempts to rebuild the life he left behind and ascend to the throne of the Broken Empire. Ironically enough, first loves might also be one of the hardest things to capture in words but, luckily, we have books for that. No pressure! Mother to four children, Claras main purpose is maintaining the house and participating in social events with other wives of the rich and powerful. Very similar in feeling to Guy Gavriel Kay's writing (you mentioned you liked Tigana). This title will be released on February 23, 2023. our expectations. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and you might too, but its not what your asking for. After suffering for years in a prison camp, he discovers he is a Mistborn someone who possesses great magical powers that give him the chance to overturn the tyrannical reign of the Lord Ruler. Is the first book a pretty good representation of the strengths and weaknesses? Tolkien built Middle-earth with detailed prose and descriptions, Le Guin builds Earthsea with a light prose and digestible narrative that can be very refreshing. Not against big battle sequences but don't need action like that. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2015.
Only those who survive the drop will crawl from the wreckage to finally paddle down the delta and float off in their own separate directions. This series is packed full of great action scenes three-dimensional characters, blood, blood, and more blood. All paths lead to war
Publisher Shadow And Betrayal: Book One of The Long Price. While a lot of epic fantasies take place in a world inspired by medieval Europe, this one has Asian-inspired elements that set it apart. One of the best cast of characters I've encountered. I actually prefer it because I feel like the story is more focused. Dagger and the Coin is a maybe and Mistborn doesn't really fit what you're looking for. 
He knows too well that even the smallest war still means somebody's death. : Thank you, that's helpful. Some people say the best writers are the ones who, at the end of a series, leave you desperate for more. While this series does not have the detailed worldbuilding that other epic fantasy stories have, it is nevertheless intricate and real, which makes it one of the classical examples of the genre. Second book you might want to try is Black Wolves by Kate Elliot. I think it has a lot of same qualities. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 September 2014. There are five total books and each novel in the series has received an award. I would recommend getting to all of them at some point if you can. The Traitor Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson. Try Anne Bishop's Dark Jewels trilogy. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. In case youre wondering, those plus Eriksons books bring the series total to a whooping twenty-two books!
. . Add to it the fact that the characters themselves dont know much of whats going on and they are the narrators its up to you to decide if they are reliable or not. He has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, and won the International Horror Guild award. The plot also keeps revealing uenxpected things, with the truth always a bit more complicated than i'd previously thought. This might not sound like the makings of an interesting character, but in reality its a breath of fresh air from the morally-grey grimdark antiheroes that populate (and dominate) so much of recent fantasy. Read and vote for your favorites on the discover feed. Geders chapters are particularly powerful here, and the tragic-comic story of his unwitting rise to power continues to be fantastically told. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Once again, the protagonists are the most engaging feature of The Widows House; and once again, Geder Palliako edges into the lead as my personal favourite. Lord Regent Geder Palliako's war has led his nation and the priests of the spider goddess to victory after victory. Something went wrong. As mentioned above, Baru Cormorant sounds like exactly what I need! It is well written, but it is not really what you describe. .
He has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, and won the International Horror Guild award. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Reviewing an entire series in one fell swoop can be tricky. With dynamic characters, complex relationships, beautiful scenery, and action-packed scenes, theres nothing quite like diving into epic fantasy stories. Long-time lurker, first time poster in this sub, so apologies in advance if I'm doing anything wrong! 
I dnf'ed the first book just a little ways in. Its hard to be specific without vomiting spoilers (or spiders) all over the page, so Ill switch to vagueness for this last part . But likeable characters alone are rarely enough to win over most readers. Agreed, this sounds like the clichd plot of an old role-playing game; yet seeing these two cool characters paired up on a wild adventure is actually a LOT of fun. Sometimes spectacular, often laugh-out-loud funny and always engaging: Daniel Abraham has crafted a character-driven series that becomes stronger and more complex with each instalment. 
. Thanks! But although Cithrin plays a crucial role in future events, she spends much of book two waiting in the wings. Firstly you should check out scifi series Expanse if you haven't. Since you liked The First Law (great series), I feel the need to recommend the. There are dragons, labyrinths, and evil forces that need to be vanquished, after all. Aragorn ascended to the throne. Set in a world of complex magical systems that create an intricate social and political structure, Mistborn begins with the story of an enslaved, half-Skaa (lower-class) thief named Kelsier. I love the Dagger and the Coin series and am avidly looking forward to the last book this spring. Each of the three previous books in this series has improved upon the previous novel, with the characters becoming even more fleshed out, the pace of the plot accelerating and, very gradually, the reason for the series title of 'The Dagger and the Coin' becoming apparent. Set in a world reminiscent of medieval Europe, The First Law series follows a handful of characters in the midst of war. . I was disappointed with both. The Tyrants Law is the first book in the series where the diversity of the different races becomes a contentious issue, and the fact that we the reader have already spent two books peacefully co-existing with those who are now reviled makes us feel especially uncomfortable with the rising bigotry. [], The Dagger and the Coin (Series) by Daniel Abraham, View thefantasyhives profile on Facebook, View thefantasyhives profile on Instagram. With a light and engaging writing style, Abraham draws his readers into a sense of comfort and familiarity with his characters while they go through chaos and war. 
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I have read quite a few fantasy books, but finding similar books is hard, because imo he has pretty unique voice. But while it takes roughly the first half of the book for the characters to fully begin to form, the other aspects of the world soon fall into place. I like a lot of the things you mentioned in my books and I did enjoy Martin and Abercrombie quite a bit. The names are a bit tough but I got used to them. I'll definitely read it, thanks a lot. .
It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness. Light world building, easy to follow plot, a touch of politics and wonderful characters what you're looking for is the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. 
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You should totally check out The Traitor Baru Cormorant and Lies of Locke Lamora for the intrigue/relationships aspect, I'm going to say you would likely also enjoy Senlin Ascends, though it is super hard to classify. I don't necessarily need the story to center around it.
When the kings health begins to falter, sibling rivalry and long-kept secrets threaten the stability of the kingdom. We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. But be warned, the series doesnt follow a linear storyline and can be very confusing at first. 