Archive for best selling fantasy books
The Sword of Truth Books by Terry Goodkind
Posted by: | CommentsThe Sword of Truth Books by Terry Goodkind is a set of eleven epic fantasy novels that followed the adventures of Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander. The protagonists embark upon a journey intended to defeat the tyrants that wanted to unleash evil upon the world.
These are the books in the series:
Wizard’s First Rule (Book 1)
Millions of readers the world over have been held spellbound by this valiant tale vividly told.
Now, enter Terry Goodkind’s world, the world of the Sword of Truth.
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher’s forest sanctuary seeking help … and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword– to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed … or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Stone of Tears (Book 2)
An Epic of Awesome Power
Kahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp … love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart.
Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard’s life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard’s love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal.
Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.
Blood of the Fold (Book 3)
An Epic of Two Worlds
In a world as rich and real as our own, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell stand against the ancient forces which besiege the New World– forces so terrible that when last they threatened, they could only be withstood by sealing off the Old World from whence they came. Now the barrier has been breached, and the New World is again beset by their evil power.
War and treachery plague the world, and only Richard and Kahlan can save it from an armageddon of unimaginable savagery and destruction.
Terry Goodkind, author of the brilliant bestsellers Wizard’s First Rule and Stone of Tears, has created his most masterful epic yet, a sumptuous feast of magic and excitement replete with the wonders of his unique fantasy vision.
“Goodkind delivers a rousing, original, and rewarding story.”–Marion Zimmer Bradley
Temple of the Winds (Book 4)
On the red moon will come the firestorm…
Wielding the Sword of Truth, Richard Rahl has battled death itself and come to the defense of the D’Haran people. But now the power-mad Emperor Jagang confronts Richard with a swift and inexorable foe: a mystical plague cutting a deadly swath across the land and slaying thousands of innocent victims.
To quench the inferno, he must seek remedy in the wind…
To fight it Richard and his beloved Kahlan Amnell will risk everything to uncover the source of the terrible plague-the magic sealed away for three millennia in the Temple of the Winds.
Lightning will find him on that path…
But when prophecy throws the shadow of betrayal across their mission and threatens to destroy them, Richard must accept the Truth and find a way to pay the price the winds demand…or he and his world will perish.
Soul of the Fire (Book 5)
Richard Rahl has traveled far from his roots as a simple woods guide. Emperor of the D’Haran Empire, war wizard, the Seeker of Truth–none of these roles mean as much to him as his newest: husband to his beloved Kahlan Amnell, Mother Confessor of the Midlands.
But their wedding day is the key that unlocks a spell sealed away long ago in a faraway country. Now a deadly power pours forth that threatens to turn the world into a lifeless waste.
Separated from the Sword of Truth and stripped of their magic, Richard and Kahlan must journey across the Midlands to discover a dark secret from the past and a trap that could tear them apart forever. For their fate has become inextricably entwined with that of the Midlands–and there’s no place so dangerous as a world without magic…
Faith of the Fallen (Book 6)
Terry Goodkind author of the enormously popular Sword of Truth novels, has forged perhaps his best novel yet, pitting Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell against threats to the freedom of the world that will take them to opposite ends of the world to defeat the forces of chaos and anarchy.
Emperor Jagang is rising once again in the Old World and Richard must face him, on his own turf. Richard heads into the Old World with Cara, the Mord-Sith, while his beloved Kahlan remains behind. Unwilling to heed an ancient prophecy, Kahlan raises an army and goes into battle against forces threatening armed insurrection in the Midlands.
Separated and fighting for their lives, Richard and Kahlan will be tested to the utmost.
The Pillars of Creation (Book 7)
Sequel to the New York Times bestselling Faith of the Fallen
New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind has created his most lavish adventure yet. Tormented her entire life by inhuman voices, a young woman named Lauren seeks to end her intolerable agony. She at last discovers a way to silence the voices. For everyone else, the torment is about to begin.
With winter descending and the paralyzing dread of an army of annihilation occupying their homeland, Richard Rahl and his wife Kahlan must venture deep into a strange and desolate land. Their quest turns to terror when they find themselves the helpless prey of a tireless hunter.
Meanwhile, Lauren finds herself drawn into the center of a struggle for conquest and revenge. Worse yet, she finds her will seized by forces more abhorrent than anything she ever envisioned. Only then does she come to realize that the voices were real.
Staggered by loss and increasingly isolated, Richard and Kahlan must stop the relentless, unearthly threat which has come out of the darkest night of the human soul. To do so, Richard will be called upon to face the demons stalking among the Pillars of Creation.
Discover breathtaking adventure and true nobility of spirit. Find out why millions of readers the world over have elevated Terry Goodkind to the ranks of legend.
Naked Empire (Book 8 )
Beginning with Wizard’s First Rule and continuing with six subsequent fantasy masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled and awed millions of readers worldwide. Now Goodkind returns with a broad-canvas adventure of epic intrigue, violent conflict, and terrifying peril for the beautiful Kahlan Amnell and her husband, the heroic Richard Rahl, the Sword of Truth.
Richard Rahl has been poisoned. Saving an empire from annihilation is the price of the antidote. With the shadow of death looming near, the empire crumbling before the invading hordes, and time running out, Richard is offered not only his own life but the salvation of a people, in exchange for delivering his wife, Kahlan, into bondage to the enemy.
Each of the novels of the series was written as a stand alone book, except for the last three novels of the series. These last three are intended to be a trilogy, following common timelines.
Chainfire (Trilogy Part I, Book 9)
With Wizard’s First Rule and seven subsequent masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled readers worldwide with the unique sweep of his storytelling. Now Goodkind returns with a new novel of Richard and Kahlan, the beginning of a sequence of three novels that will bring their epic story to its culmination.
After being gravely injured in battle, Richard awakes to discover Kahlan missing. To his disbelief, no one remembers the woman he is frantically trying to find. Worse, no one believes that she really exists, or that he was ever married. Alone as never before, he must find the woman he loves more than life itself….if she is even still alive. If she was ever even real.
Phantom Chainfire (Trilogy Part II, Book 10)
On the day she awoke remembering nothing but her name, Kahlan Amnell became the most dangerous woman alive. For everyone else, that was the day that the world began to end.
As her husband, Richard, desperately searches for his beloved, whom only he remembers, he knows that if she doesn’t soon discover who she really is, she will unwittingly become the instrument that will unleash annihilation. But Kahlan learns that if she ever were to unlock the truth of her lost identity, then evil itself would finally possess her, body and soul.
If she is to survive in a murky world of deception and betrayal, where life is not only cheap but fleeting, Kahlan must find out why she is such a central figure in the war-torn world swirling around her. What she uncovers are secrets darker than she could ever have imagined.
Confessor Chainfire (Trilogy Part III, Book 11)
Descending into darkness, about to be overwhelmed by evil, those people still free are powerless to stop the coming dawn of a savage new world, while Richard faces the guilt of knowing that he must let it happen. Alone, he must bear the weight of a sin he dare not confess to the one person he loves…and has lost.
Join Richard and Kahlan in the concluding novel of one of the most remarkable and memorable journeys ever written. It started with one rule, and will end with the rule of all rules, the rule unwritten, the rule unspoken since the dawn of history.
When next the sun rises, the world will be forever changed.
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
Posted by: | CommentsThe Kingkiller Chronicle is a fantasy novel series by Patrick Rothfuss. The first book of the series was first published in 2007 and it instantly become a New York Times best seller. The trilogy narrates the life and adventures of Kvothe. Kvothe is an adventurer and a famous musician; he also has esoteric scientific knowledge that enables him to perform magic. He withdraws from public life after his infamous youth. He is eventually tracked down by the Chronicler who persuades him to tell his life’s story. Kvothe finally concedes and says that his story would take three days – which is divided into the three books of the series.
The books in the trilogy are:
The Name of the Wind (Book 1)
The New York Times bestselling novel.
This is the riveting first-person narrative of Kvothe, a young man who grows to be one of the most notorious magicians his world has ever seen.
From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard.
The Wise Man’s Fear (Book 2)
My name is Kvothe. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in.
I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me… So begins the tale of a hero told from his own point of view—a story unequalled in fantasy literature. .
The Doors of Stone (Book 3)
Release Date: To be announced
Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Posted by: | CommentsLord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien popularly known as the second best-selling novel ever written has sold over a 150 million copies. To me, it’s the greatest epic fantasy series ever written! The series initially began as a sequel to Tolkien’s less complex children’s fantasy novel, The Hobbit, and eventually turned into a trilogy. So I’d suggest you first start with The Hobbit before starting the series; the books offers much a needed back story into some of the central characters in the series.
These are the books in the series:
The Hobbit (Book 1)
THE GREATEST FANTASY EPIC OF OUR TIME
Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves.
Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo alone and unaided who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside . . .
The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2)
Frodo Baggins knew the Ringwraiths were searching for him–and the Ring of Power he bore that would enable Sauran to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam to carry the Ring to where it could be detroyed–in the very center of Sauron’s dark kingdom.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elvensmiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, still it remained lost to him . . .
The Two Towers (Book 3)
THE GREATEST FANTASY EPIC OF OUR TIME
The Fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman.
Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor?the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the corruption of the Ring.
The Return of the King (Book 4)
While the evil might of the Dark Lord Sauron swarmed out to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggled deep into Mordor, seat of Sauron’s power. To defeat the Dark Lord, the accursed Ring of Power had to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom.
But the way was impossibly hard, and Frodo was weakening. Weighed down by the compulsion of the Ring he began finally to despair.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Posted by: | CommentsPopularly known as one of the greatest classics in the world of children’s literature, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis is a set of epic fantasy novels for kids. The series has a total of seven books following the adventures of several central kid characters who are magically transported to the fictional world of Narnia where talking animals and magic are a common thing.
The children are called upon by Aslan (a Lion) to battle the evil that has been infesting Narnia and restore the throne of Narnia to its rightful royal line. This series is also known as Lewis’s best work and has sold over a 100 million copies and in 47 different languages! If you liked the Harry Potter series, I’m sure you’ll love this one too!
The seven books in the series are:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Book 1)
They open a door and enter a world . . . Narnia … a land frozen in eternal winter … a country waiting to be set free.
Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia — a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch.
But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change … and a great sacrifice.
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Book 2)
The four Pevensies help Capsian battle Miraz and ascend his rightful throne.
Narnia has been at peace since Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund helped rid the kingdom of the evil White Witch. But the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve have returned to their own world and a dark presence now rules this once harmonious land…
Wicked King Miraz has imposed a pernicious new order of persecution and imprisonment, but the King’s nephew and rightful heir, young Prince Caspian, realizing the evil of his uncle’s regime, vows to revive Narnia’s glorious past. Fearing for his life, he is forced to flee and calls on the four children, the magic of the mighty lion Aslan, and an army of fauns, dwarfs and woodland spirits to help him in his seemingly impossible task.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Book 3)
In the enchanted land of Narnia, Edmund and Lucy join King Caspian on a sworn mission to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia. So begins a perilous new quest that takes them to the farthest edge of the Eastern world on board the mighty Dawn Treader.
Sailing uncharted seas, the old friends must survive a terrible storm, encounters with sea serpents, dragons, and invisible enemies to reach lands where magicians weave mysterious spells and nightmares come true. They need every ounce of courage and the help of the great lion Aslan to triumph in their most hazardous adventure of all.
The Silver Chair (Book 4)
NARNIA . . . where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans (and, if carefully cooked, on Marsh-wiggles, too), where a prince is put under an evil spell . . . and where the adventure begins. Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor . . . or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved. Enter this enchanged world countless times in The Chronicles of Narnia.
The Horse and His Boy (Book 5)
When Shasta discovers he is not Arsheesh’s son and therefore does not belong in the cruel land of Calormen, he joins forces with Bree the talking horse and flees north towards Narnia, where freedom reigns.
And so begins their hazardous journey, fraught with mystery and danger. Calormen’s capital city of Tashbaan must be crossed, a harsh desert endured, the high mountains of Archenland climbed, their enemies overcome. For the young Shasta it is an adventure beyond his wildest dreams and one destined to change his life forever.
The Magician’s Nephew (Book 6)
When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory’s peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew’s magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagined.
Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world they encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London when she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.
The Last Battle (Book 7)
The last battle is the greatest of all battles
Narnia … where lies breed fear … where loyalty is tested … where all hope seems lost.
During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge — not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear in this, the magnificent ending to The Chronicles of Narnia.
Many Narnian years have passed since Eustace and Jill helped ensure the Royal line. But when they are jerked back violently into this strangest of lands they find the present King in danger and Narnia facing its darkest hour. With Eustace and Jill at his side, the King, the noble unicorn Jewel and a few remaining loyal subjects must stand fast against the powers of evil and darkness and fight the Last Battle to decide the future of this once glorious kingdom.
Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris
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Title: Grave Secret
Author: Charlaine Harris
Pages: 288
Genre: Fantasy
I love paranormal books that include something extra. There’s something immensely satisfying about a book that keeps you guessing for pages and pages, keeping you glued to your seat until the emotional payoff of the final pages. Grave Secret, and the rest of the books in Charlaine Harris’ best-selling Harper Connelly series, fall into this category.
Grave Secret is the fourth book in the Harper Connelly Mysteries series. If you’re not familiar with it, I fully recommend that you read the three previous books so you’ll fully appreciate Grave Secret.
Harper Connelly is a young woman with the ability to sense the presence of the dead and deduce the cause of their deaths. Harper uses this ability to earn a living, and she and her stepbrother Tolliver run a business dedicated to helping people track down the bodies of their loved ones.
In Grave Secret, Harper has finally come to terms with her strange ability and is finally realizing a new relationship with Tolliver. Although their relationship isn’t looked on kindly by the people around them they weather through it at the best of their abilities.
Harper and Tolliver head to Texas after being summoned by the members of an affluent family whose patriarch, Rich, has gone missing. While working on the case they find out that their dad has gotten out of jail and is eager to make amends. Harper soon learns that the case they’re working on may be linked to her own troubled family history. Harper makes a discovery that lands her and the people around her in more danger than ever before. Left alone to fend for herself, Harper must solve the case and find the person who seems to be eager to see her dead.
Although Harris could have gone the easy route and used this book just to tie up the loose ends left over from the previous novel she instead wrote an amazing fourth book with a new case, new dangers and more revelations. Grave Secret also reveals a lot about Harper and Tolliver’s past. It’s a shame that the series ended so quickly, as Harper’s character is so much stronger than it was in the previous three books. It would have been great to see a new Harper Connelly but unfortunately, all good things must come with an end. I’m glad that Harris wrote such a fantastic series ender that gave me, like Harper’s clients, closure.
But wait, there’s more!
CBS is working on a new TV series based on the Harper Connelly books! The series will be called Grave Secret and will focus on the cases that Harper and Tolliver work on. Hurrah!
So, who do you think will play Harper and Tolliver?
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
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Title: An Ice Cold Grave
Author: Charlaine Harris
Pages: 288
Genre: Fantasy
I think it’s sometimes a little scary to like a book series so much, just in case the author has a bad case of writer’s block and ends the series halfway in the middle. I know this rarely happens but I just started reading the Harper Connelly books and like them a lot so at the end of the second book (Grave Surprise) I was on tenterhooks as I searched Amazon to see if there were other books in the series. Thankfully Harris seems to be some sort of writing machine, kind of like Stephen King, and I quickly ordered An Ice Cold Grave.
Harper Connelly, besides having the ability to find dead people, also possesses the ability to get herself in trouble with alarming frequency. In An Ice Cold Grave, Harper and her stepbrother and manager Tolliver embark on their third case.
Several teenage boys from Doraville, NC have gone missing. Harper and Tolliver are hired by a woman looking for the body of her grandson. Harper is helped by Sandra Rockwell, the local sheriff, who, unlike the previous sheriff who refused to believe that anything was wrong, is convinced that something more sinister than runaway cases and suicides is going on.
Soon after the investigation gets underway Harper is attacked by an unknown assailant. Shaken, Harper is just about ready to leave town as soon as she gets paid gets but the local law demands that she stay and help solve the mystery of the missing boys. The gruesome nature of the case eventually attracts media attention and Harper’s friends, a psychic and her son, turn up to lend a helping hand.
This book had me sitting on the edge of my sofa. If you thought the two previous books were exciting, wait until you read An Ice Cold Grave. This storyline is noticeably much darker than the previous books but I think that’s because in this book Harper’s powers are much stronger. For those interested in how Harper and Tolliver’s troubled relationship is panning out, here’s a teaser: in this book, the dynamics of their relationship change DRASTICALLY.
As always, Harris effortlessly captures the reader’s attention. The flow of the writing is natural and excitement punctuates the book from beginning to end. If you plan on reading this book do it at the start of a weekend so you don’t end up bleary-eyed at work on Monday after staying up all night finishing it. An Ice Cold Grave is thrilling, thought-provoking and immensely satisfying. Two thumbs up!
Marysvale by Jared Southwick
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Title: Marysvale
Author: Jared Southwick
Pages: 387
Genre: Fantasy
I have the bad habit of skipping over books with unappealing book covers, so I almost gave Jared Southwick’s Marysvale a miss. The cover has a distinctly Twilight feel, and I’d sooner eat an apple whole than read anything that remotely resembles Twilight. I read the blurb on the back and thought that the premise looked promising, so I decided to get the book.
I figured that if I didn’t like it, I could always give it to my sister. She’ll read anything. Fast-forward to later that evening and I’m so engrossed in the story that I’d actually forgotten to eat! Needless to say, I didn’t give my copy of Marysvale to my sister.
John Casey is a man with a bleak past, and an even bleaker future. When he was ten years old, his mother was murdered and his father never told him the true reason for his mother’s passing, leaving John vulnerable to the enemies responsible for his mother’s death. As an adult, John is something of a loner. The world John lives in is not too different from the one we’re in except the monsters in his world come in both horror fiction and human varieties. John, guided by a strong sense of right and wrong, discovers that being the good guy means being the guy getting chased by the bad guys – all the time.
You see John has a secret and unique talent: he can see into a person’s soul. This talent ultimately gets him into trouble and he’s accused of witchcraft. On the run (while being chased by monsters) he ends up in a small town called Marysvale. The inhabitants of Marysvale live in fear of both the monsters that lurk in the woods that surround the town and their despotic ruler.
Marysvale is an imaginative tale full of twists and turns, surprising announcements, and headshaking revelations. At its core, Marysvale is a love story. John’s feelings for Jane, a resident of Marysvale, are tender and innocent, and as the story progresses so does their relationship. Marysvale moves at a thrilling pace and I found myself unable to put it down (and usually, nothing comes between me and my Saturday afternoon Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn).
If you’re looking for an exciting story with all the right ingredients (monsters, heroes and ladies in distress), Marysvale is definitely for you.
