Yeah, this list is a little late this year. Holiday fun and winter colds put me behind. But better late than never, right?
As always, this list is my end-of-the-year effort to look back on all the books I’ve read, give a little more love to my favorites, and, hopefully, help someone discover a great story they missed out on.
10. The Unremembered: Author’s Definitive Edition
by Peter Orullian
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Vault of Heaven #1
Publisher: Tor Books (April 7, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 480 pages
My Review: The Unremembered
I had read all the negative reviews, was concerned by them, but they didn’t keep me from trying this revised edition of the story. And I’m glad I did. The Unremembered is a really good fantasy. Certainly, it reminds one of other epic fantasy in the mold of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, but Mr. Orullian infused some fresh ideas, especially with his very cool magic system.
Purchase the book at Amazon
9. The Last Sacrifice by James A. Moore
Genre: Fantasy — Sword and Sorcery
Series: Tides of War #1
Publisher: Angry Robot (January 3, 2017)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 400 pages
Yeah, this novel was released in 2017, but I read it in 2016, so I’m including it here. The reason why I couldn’t wait until my 2017 list is because more people need to read James A. Moore’s smooth, horrifying sword and sorcery books. Especially this one, which begins a new series.
Purchase the book at Amazon
8. The Silent Army by James A. Moore
Genre: Fantasy — Sword and Sorcery
Series: Seven Forges #4
Publisher: Angry Robot (May 3, 2016)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 400 pages
My Review: The Silent Army
Dé·jà vu? Nope, I just had to also put my favorite sword and sorcery series on the list as well. It just happens to be penned by James A. Moore too. The Seven Forges series was an addictive mixture of fantasy and horror, which quickly became a guilty pleasure of mine, one which I encourage everyone else to, at least, give a try.
Purchase the book at Amazon
7. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Divine Cities #2
Publisher: Broadway Books (January 26, 2016)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 484 pages
My Review: City of Blades
Robert Jackson Bennett had a tough job trying to follow-up his spectacular City of Stairs, but he found a way with this novel. This return trip to the Continent another thrilling adventure of discovery, action, and mystical mystery!
Purchase the book at Amazon
6. The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Red Queen’s War #2
Publisher: Ace (June 2, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 479 pages
My Review: Coming Soon!
This second installment of The Red Queen’s War started out slow, but soon, it picked up speed, rushing to an amazing conclusion. Nope, I haven’t read The Wheel of Osheim yet, but it is sitting on my bookshelf waiting ever so patiently for me to pick it up and find out how this trilogy ends.
Purchase the book at Amazon
5. The City of Ice by K.M. McKinley
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Gates of the World #2
Publisher: Solaris (December 27, 2016)
Length: 400 pages
My Review: Coming Soon!
While I had some issues with The Iron Ship, I desperately wanted to get my hands on this book, because there was so much potential with this story. Well, in The City of Ice, everything comes together; these amazing characters and their world unfolding before readers, mesmerizing in its action and mysteries. Loved every minute of it, can’t wait for the next installment.
Purchase the book at Amazon
4. Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
Genre: Fantasy – Flintlock
Series: Powder Mage #1
Publisher: Orbit (April 16, 2013)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 545 pages
My Review: Promise of Blood
It took me a while to pick this flintlock fantasy up, but once I did it really sunk its claws in deep. Mr. McClellan’s amazing magic system and cast of interesting characters, as well as familiar yet unique plot, keeping me glued to the pages. Now, I just have to find time to read the rest of the trilogy before his new book comes out in a couple months.
Purchase the book at Amazon.
3. The Mirror’s Truth by Michael Fletcher
Genre: Fantasy — Grimdark
Series: Manifest Delusions #2
Publisher: Self Published (December 15, 2016)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 455 pages
My Review: Coming Soon!
I was expecting great things out of Michael Fletcher’s follow-up to last year’s Beyond Redemption, and he exceeded my wildest hopes. This grimmest of grimdarks continued the story of our terrible trio, adding to the demented madness of this world and evolving the insane magic, which molds its ever changing reality. Now, more people need to go read it already!
Purchase the books at Amazon
2. Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Greatcoats #3
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (April 7, 2016)
Length: 576 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Review: Saint’s Blood
Heroic. Humorous. Exciting. Filled with suspense. Magical. Add whatever adjectives you would like regarding Saint’s Blood as long as they basically are describing near perfection, because Sebastien de Castell produced yet another masterpiece of swashbuckling adventure with this installment of the Greatcoats series. Can hardly wait for book four!
Purchase the book at Amazon.
1. Red Tide by Marc Turner
Genre: Fantasy – Epic
Series: The Chronicles of the Exile #3
Publisher: Tor (September 20, 2016)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Length: 544 pages
My Review: Red Tide
This saga by Michael Turner is a beauty to experience. Filled with a huge cast, set against a sprawling world and taking place in numerous locations, it reminds most readers of Steven Erikson’s Malazan. All of which means this is an epic fantasy which just keeps getting better and better with each installment. That is your cue to go out and start reading it already! 🙂
Purchase the book at Amazon.
Well, that is my list. Hopefully, I’ve introduced you to a few novels you want to read now. And, hopefully, when you do try these novels, you’ll agree with me that they are definitely some of the best fantasy around!
bookwraiths.com 
I’ve only read two of these (City of Blades and Promise of Blood), but definitely want to read Mirror’s Truth sometime soon
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No no, your opinion doesn’t match mine is and therefore wrong =)
Actually I have only read City of Blades and Promise of Blood myself. I just like City of Blades more.
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City of Blades, The Mirror’s Truth, and Saint’s Blood are also on my best-of list for fantasy. I need to jump on board Red Tide one of these days and catch up.
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Great list! Now, to find more time for reading… You don’t do babysitting so I can catch up on my tbr list by any chance, do you?
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I’d love to keep a baby again. All my kids are teenagers now, so I long for the days of sitting on the floor playing with little ones. 🙂
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Lol – you’re welcome to mine! At least, until I miss her (usually takes up to 10′)
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thanks for the list – you know my family hates when you do this as I disappear into book after book after book….but I love it! T.
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No love for the conclusion to A.J. Smith’s “The Long War” series, “The World Raven” ? A stunning book to finish a totally underrated series. Long may the Long War continue. One of the best series in recent memory.
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An impressive list, indeed! I have read only Promise of Blood, so far, but several of the other books, or series, are on my radar and I hope to get to them soon 🙂
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I enjoyed reading Sebastien De Costell late in the year myself. Now I need to dig into some of the others on this list!
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This is a great list. Now it’s bookmarked. The Moore books might be next on my list. I like dark fantasy quite a bit. McClellan and Lawrence are right up there at the top too. So much reading to do!
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Good luck with them all. 🙂
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I love chronicles of the exile! I’m always trying to tell people about Marc turners series because it is tremendously underrated. Another great series that’s under read is The Traitorson Cycle by Miles Cameron! That and marcs chronicle of the exile are two of the best series be written right now in the vein of Erikson and Jordan!
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I definitely want to give Miles Cameron a try soon.
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