Any recommendations like Codex Alera?

[Montero]

Just read the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher and enjoyed it. I liked the complexities and also the pace - it does keep moving. Could do with some other energetic adventure story - any recommendations?

For calibration - I'm not that keen on Joe Abercrombie, Brent Weeks, or SOIAF - not knocking them just find the tone too grim. There is just as much death and destruction in the Codex Alera, but it is a more optimistic series.

 

[Heather Myst]

You might want to look at Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria series.

 

[Juliana]

Have you tried Butcher's new series? It has a steampunk vibe but feels a little like Codex Alera in pacing and style. The first is the Aeronaut's Windlass.

 

[Montero]

Thanks Heather, will give that a try.

Juliana - waiting for it to be in paperback.


Incidentally, for further calibration - other series/authors

Barbara Hambly

Lois McMaster Bujold - Chalion and Sharing Knife

Guy Gavriel Kay - Fionovar - (but not his other more historical books - too slow)

Tanya Huff's The Silvered


Basically looking for series where even if there are overwhelming odds, the characters are not oppressed - might be saying "how can we ***** win??" but they still try. Also that people and their interactions are well written. That there is a sense of energy to the writing. Also a sense of the author having fun.

 

[Juliana]

If you don't mind dipping your toes in YA, I'm a huge fan of Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms books. 4 books in the series (with a 5th, set 20 or so years later out this month), starting with The Demon King, and they honestly have it all: magic, adventure, anything a fantasy story needs. And without being grimdark.

 

[Montero]

Thanks Juliana, looks good. YA (the older end of it) is good for me. Just re-read the Abhorsen Chronicles. Love Diana Wynne Jones's Dark Lord of Derkholme. Philip Pullman also a favourite.

 

[The Big Peat]

Abercrombie was actually the first name to spring to mind, but I can see how there's a pretty major difference in tone.

Somewhere between Butcher and Abercrombie for darkness, but similar in terms of high-octane action fests, is David Gemmell. And while there is more darkness in Gemmell's heroes than Butcher's, he still wants his heroes to be heroes who do things right, and wants the heroes to win, so I don't think it'll be too dark. So have a look.

 

[Montero]

Thanks Big Peat. I'll give that a try.

 

[Montero]

So - I started with Michael J Sullivan and am on the third of the Riyria revelations (paperback). Good fun. Speaking as a writer, interesting to see the combination of a "young" voice with epic fantasy. There are dark happenings but it isn't grim dark. I read on his website the series was originally written for his teenage daughter and he was writing something he wanted to read. Highlighted to me the usefulness of simplicity in storytelling and reminded me how I do like some YA authors like Garth Nix. So if I am ever in a position to be asked "which authors influenced you" I think I will include MJS

 

[AndrewT]

Just read the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher and enjoyed it. I liked the complexities and also the pace - it does keep moving. Could do with some other energetic adventure story - any recommendations?

For calibration - I'm not that keen on Joe Abercrombie, Brent Weeks, or SOIAF - not knocking them just find the tone too grim. There is just as much death and destruction in the Codex Alera, but it is a more optimistic series.

I really liked Codex too but I got tired of the Vord by about book five. The world and premise were still lots of fun. I am reading Sullivan's Riyria series now and liking them. I have high hopes for his Age of Myths coming out. There seems not to be any really great fantasy this decade so far. Hopefully that may change.

 

[Montero]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations, having acted on them, a little more feedback and queries:

1. Cinda Williams Chima - loved the Seven Realms series, finished it last week. Question to Juliana (or anyone else) Cinda W Chima's other series with "Heir" in the titles - is it as mature (for want of a better word)? I went looking for more CWC and read the description of the first heir book and wondered if it was at the younger end of young adult?

2. Tried David Gemmel's Wolf in Shadow (its what the library had... ) and it seemed to be a post-apocalyptic and a bit "western" in structure - lone rider passing outlying farm and not helping the woman in distress. Gave up early on as much darker than I wanted to read - question - are other of David Gemmel's books more upbeat and energetic?

 

[Juliana]

Montero, CWC's Heir series is cute, but nowhere as mature as the Seven Realms (in my opinion).

The first in her new Shattered Realms series came out in April; it's set 25 years after the Seven Realms books and is terrific.

 

[biodroid]

Montero, try Winter Warriors by David Gemmell. It feels like you are watching an action fantasy movie but in novel form.