5 Fantasy Book Recommendations

 

A few years ago, I went to a graduation for my spouse’s master’s degree and one of the speakers talked about how after graduation many graduates stop reading. This was one of the motivations for me to get started in reading. I was not much of a reader prior to this experience. Anyways, I have read a lot of books and I have more books to read in the future. For those of you that are starting to read or should read here are five book recommendations that every fantasy reader should read. I will not include Young Adult series in this post because that can be their own post.

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Of course, the first recommendation for fantasy reads should be the one that inspired the genre, Lord of the Rings. It is a timeless tale of Frodo Baggins and his companions as they embark on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. Set in the richly detailed world of Middle-earth, the story explores themes of friendship, heroism, and the struggle against tyranny. With its intricate mythology, diverse cultures, and stirring battles between good and evil.

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (and later Brandon Sanderson)

This epic journey of Rand al'Thor and his companions as they navigate a world on the brink of destruction. Set in a meticulously crafted universe where the Wheel weaves the pattern of time, the series chronicles the battle between forces of light and shadow, weaving together intricate plots, diverse cultures, and a rich tapestry of magic. Spanning fifteen volumes, it delves into themes of destiny, power, and the cyclical nature of history, offering a gripping saga of prophecy, adventure, and the struggle for survival.

The Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson

The Cosmere is a grand interconnected universe encompassing multiple series and standalone novels, each set on different worlds but sharing a common cosmology and magical system. Spanning genres from epic fantasy to science fiction, the Cosmere explores themes of power, redemption, mental health, and the nature of divinity. Through intricate worldbuilding and compelling characters, Sanderson weaves a narrative tapestry that invites readers to explore the depths of his vast and imaginative creation. See my previous post on my opinion on what order to read them in.

Cradle by Will Wight

A series where individuals strive to ascend to higher levels of power through martial arts and cultivation. In a realm governed by sacred arts and mysterious forces, the protagonist, Lindon, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and growth. Filled with exhilarating combat, intricate worldbuilding, and dynamic characters, Wight's series offers a captivating blend of action, intrigue, and exploration of the human spirit's boundless potential. If you are a fan of the anime One Piece then you will like this series.

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

a mesmerizing tale that follows the enigmatic Kvothe as he recounts his journey from a gifted young musician to a legendary figure shrouded in myth and mystery. Set in the richly imagined world of Temerant, the narrative weaves together elements of magic, music, and adventure, exploring themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of knowledge. With its lyrical prose and intricate storytelling, Rothfuss crafts a captivating narrative that immerses readers in a world of wonder and danger.

LDS Geeks Podcast #3: Chrono Cross

Rob and I got to talk about our love for Chrono Cross, Rob as a long time fan of Chrono Cross, and  me as a newcomer to the Chrono universe of games. I hope you enjoy episode 3 of the podcast.

--Michael

What if Cradle became a Video Game?

 

artist: Sommer Skye

On August 15^th, Will Wight, the creator of Cradle tweeted “The meeting went well” with no details. So of course, many fans were commenting and giving their hypotheses on what the meeting was about. Some think that the meeting was about making his work into a movie, TV show (animated and not). With the writer’s strike happening I doubt that is the case, unless it’s being made from a different country. I am one of the many others that believe that a video game adaptation of cradle will be in the works. 

artist: u/sugar_skye (Sommer Skye)

As I was thinking about the video game adaptation there were two games that I believe would be fun for this series: 1. A JRPG game where we play as the main characters from Cradle. 2. An action role-playing dungeon crawler game. Personally, I would like to have both types of games because I want to play as Lindon, but I would also like to be able to create my own character and have a choice for Iron Body and Path(s) (I would have to try splitting my core at least 5 times). 

artist: Sommer Skye

Even though these two games are different, there must be some constants that I want to happen in both games. For starters, Travis Baldree is a must. For those of you who are unaware, Travis Baldree is the narrator for the books, a voice actor, and a writer (his debut novel was Legends and Lattes). He should voice any character he wants to. If the game was a JRPG, then I would like him to voice Eithan or Dross; why not both. But if he wants to voice a different character, he should have first pick. Second, relating to voice actors, I believe we should have an array of diverse voice actors. I feel like most anime style shows use the same actors and if this is a video game then we should get a fresh batch of actors with cultural diversity. Third, I would want to see gnome easter eggs throughout the game since the books are published by hidden gnome (Will Wight’s publishing company). Finally, the game should not be made by EA. I am still not a fan of them since the release of Star Wars BattleFont II. 

If the game is a JRPG I would expect us to play as Lindon for most of the time. In a typical JRPG when the character is roaming around there are side conversations that happen. As we play as him wondering around the world, I would want him to talk to himself quoting bloopers that can be found at the end of the book, breaking the fourth wall. I want those side conversations to be bloopers and they can involve other main characters like Yerin. Also, I would want the game to have beautiful scenery like Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild or Xenoblade. I want the game to be story driven following the events of the series, but I also want only a lot of fun side quests that can be repeated. Like facing a Gold Dragon that keeps getting stronger with each encounter. 

If the game is like an action role-playing dungeon crawler game, the graphics wouldn’t have to be as good as the JRPG, but if it was that would be awesome. I would imagine the game being like Torchlight or Path of Exile with MMO skill trees that are complex. I want a wide variety of options for iron bodies and paths, and I want certain paths to be earned and difficult to obtain. However, if you must obtain a path then I would want to be able to reset or restart my character once the path is unlocked. 

artist: Sommer Skye

I don’t know what Will Wight has in store for us in the future or what his meeting was about, but I hope it’s a video game adaptation. It very well could be a meeting about his upcoming kickstarter for special edition books 4-6 in the series. What do you hope the meeting was about?

You Need to Read Cradle!

 

artist: u/-cloudsmith-

I was told a few years ago by a trustworthy friend that I should read the series Cradle. I put it on my to-read list on Goodreads (follow me on Goodreads), but I waited years to read the series. To be fair I looked for it at my local library and they didn’t have a copy nor did BYU or any bookstores that I visted. Anyways, recently the author, Will Wight, posted on Twitter that all his ebooks were free for a day because of the upcoming novel (the last book in Cradle). So, I got all eleven books for free and another book from a different series he is writing. Let me tell you, I have enjoyed reading these books to the point that I debated if I should read the newest secret project from Brandon Sanderson or continue the series. I have been upset at myself for taking so long to start reading the series. I should have paid for the books and read them sooner. . . . I blame my friend. It’s his fault for not forcing me to read it sooner.

artist: u/meadblossom

To give you some background about this series; these are self-published and sold on Amazon. That explains why I couldn’t find them in stores or at a local library because they usually don’t support self-published authors. I don’t know the details of why they are self-published nor can I tell that they are. 

artist: unknown

Cradle is Chinese inspired level up fantasy. Imagine a book about the origins of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan and how they trained to become strong fighters. That is how this series is with an RPG aspect to it. If you like any RPG video games like Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts where the characters get stronger over encounters and training this book is similar. Cradle also gives off an anime feel to it. So, if you like Naruto, Dragon Ball, or any power up Animes then you will like this too.

artist: Uncannyrewind

The story follows Lindon, an underdog, a person that no one in his village would train and give resources to to become stronger because his spiritual energy (madra) is too weak. There is no point in training someone that is crippled. Even though his madra is low his determination is high, and he embarks on adventures to show his worth. 

To frame how weak he is let me explain how the level system works. If a character obtains so much madra they advance to the next rank. While kids around 10 advances to the second stage he is left at the first stage in his mid-teens. Those on a higher level usually defeat the weaker levels easily. Therefore, Lindon is used to losing to 10-year-olds.

What I really enjoy about this series is the main character stays weak and struggles facing his opponents. He relies on stronger characters to face the main antagonist. Each character gets a spotlight and shows how strong they are while he is catching up. I really appreciate it because it relies on other characters’ strengths and weaknesses. Unlike typical anime’s where one character always faces the main boss, this series gives the supporting characters a place to shine.

 

artist: u/sugar_skye

 

I almost forgot to tell you my favorite part of each book. At the end of each novel there is a blooper section where different events could have occurred in the story. It usually makes me laugh. I just wish it was sub-scripted at the end of the chapter where the other event could have occurred instead of the end of the book.

The series is a fun adventure and so far very clean. If this seems like something you would be interested in, you can find all the books on Amazon here.