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I did. I have no doubt that there is probably something lost within the translations. Even still, the writing is top tier.
Noted, I might give them a go then. Love the games and the lore.
@Penny Well I'm sold. They sounds awesome and are right up my ally.
Here's a few Fantasy books I highly recommend.
The Crystal Shard by my favorite author R.A. Salvatore. It's set in the
Forgotten Realms, and is the first book in an incredibly long but highly praised (deserving imo) series. If you've played D&D, you've no doubt heard of Drizzt Do'Urden the Dark Elf renegade. This is the first book about him and his Companions of the Hall. Granted, this was before Drizzt became the main character, but it was his start to becoming an ensemble darkhorse. The writing is rich yet simple, and the book begins in the icy tundra of Icewind Dale, where a coalition of 10 settlements collected around a lake survive and trade in the far north. The closest people apart from them are a small clan of Dwarves led by Bruenor Battlehammer. Orcs, Yetis, and Giants are a constant threat, as are the nomadic, war-like barbarian tribes. The Barbarians gather together and attack 'Ten-Towns', only to be halted by townsfolk and aid from the Dwaves. A young Barbarian is beaten on the battlefield by Bruenor and taken it as an indentured servant. On his last day of his 5 year service, he is taught to fight by the Dark Elf Drizzt. They, along with Regis the ex-thief Halfling and Cattie-Brie, Bruenor's adopted human daughter, thwart an evil, unaccomplished wizard called Akar Kessel who has gained incredible power from finding the sentient Crystal Shard, an item of intense power that bends the wills the Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, and Giants of the tundra in his dream of conquest. I recommend at least reading the first trilogy, with Streams of Silver and the Halfling's Gem, respectively. I've read all 30 books in the series thrice over, which should tell you something.
The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan. A masterfully written series of 12 books called the 'Wheel of Time' series. Robert Jordan is an incredible writer, and he has created a world that rivals Tolkein's, with intricate plots and a vast array of characters. The world is run by what is known as the 'wheel' of time, and among the people there are magic users called 'Channelers.' Men wielding Saidan and women wielding Saidar. The history of the series is vast, but to put it in simple terms, long ago Shai'Tan corrupted the futuristic utopia that is essentially our future, caused a great schism in the world and ending the peace and prosperity of the world. Lewis Therin, labeled 'The Dragon' and the most powerful male channeler, became the authority of the uncorrupted faction, and in a last ditch effort he sealed Shai'Tan back out of the material universe, only for the backlash to effect all of Saidar, which means male magic users are cursed to become insane, and insane they became after Shai'Tan was sealed, which wrecked most of the world, a world that was licking its wounds from a war. Technology devolved, and it essentially became medieval again. But because time is a wheel, The Dragon Reborn was destined to return in the form of another young man as the prophecies say...
I couldn't even begin to describe the series, but I do recommend reading book one at least. In my opinion, it is one of the
greatest stand alone fantasy novels out there, and the rest of the series does not disappoint either. It goes from unlikely heroes to politics and wonders on a global scale, in a divisive world of magic, trying not to shatter as it once did. Be warned though. There's a lot of "men are from mars, women are from venus" themes. The female channelers are essentially the diplomats and U.N. of the world. The characters are wonderfully written, and the cultures are interesting region to region.
Swordmage by Richard Baker. Another Forgotten Realms book. It's only a trilogy of the same name, and while the other two are good, they pale in comparison to book one. It's about a 30 year old Swordmage, nephew to the noble, coming home after disgracing himself in the land of the Elves and making himself into a mercenary, only to hear his oldest friend back home has died. He returns to the funeral, to find the city has become under siege by corrupt merchants and their interests, the restless dead prowl the forests, his old flame has a child and is being threatened out of her shop, and he cannot even trust his own family in the myriad of different plots. That, and add Orc tribes being led under one ruler that are now encroaching upon the city, and you have yourself a hell of a story.
