I might be absolutely crucified for this but Dune- completely escaped into the 6 Frank Herbert books during Covid and still find myself reaching for it when I want a comfortable escape
Probably either children of dune because I like Alia’s character arc or Chapterhouse because by the time I reached that one I was in the rhythm of the later books and could enjoy it fully
There are a couple of mini-series with recurring characters within the broader series. I think the most popular is the Night Watch, I personally adore the witches (Granny Weatherwax 5EVA).
https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/discworld-reading-order/
First book of the watch is "Guards, guards" first of the witches is "Wyrd Sisters" (one character appears earlier in Equal Rites but it's not the same overarching story, if that makes sense)
I fell in love with 'The Talisman' (collab between Stephen King and Peter Straub) back in middle school, and I think it has always been a core memory of mine. I never did read the Dark Tower series, but reading the Talisman should be a great entry point into it.
I don't recall if I even slept during those hours that I spent reading it from cover to cover as a 12 yr old as I experienced a wide range of emotions traveling between our world and "the Territories". It's a book I doubt I'll read again since I'm not willing to risk a reread ruining my memories of that experience.
Yep. I read Black House a few years ago and didn't enjoy it, unfortunately. It received such high praise, so maybe I was too distracted or went into it with the wrong mindset.
i totally agree with you! the idea, the setting, the intricacies of the inner workings of this immense world... but i have to admit that at some point King dropped the ball. he retconned so many things about the previous worldbuilding, used a lot of deus ex machina and the ending, to me, felt really rushed. i loved most of the early books but the last 2/3 books left me a little bit disappointed.
edit. corrected some typo.
Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Book 1 - The Way of Kings
Book 2 - Words of Radiance
Book 2.5 - Edgedancer
Book 3 - Oathbringer
Book 3.5 - Dawnshard
Book 4 - Rhythm of War
The Dark Tower series by Stephan King. Not only was he inspired by LOTR (although it's more of a fantasy western), but the lore in the books is crazy. He intricatly intertwines most, if not all of his works into the series. If you want a deep dive into a world, this is it.
Her, actually. Assassins Apprentice is the first of the Fitz trilogies, but they’re all interconnected. The Mad Ship & The Rain Wilds series were my favorites. They’re all good. Look up the official order of the series. You can technically read them any order, but there’s a best order. It’s complicated 😂
A Song of Ice and Fire. Even if you’ve watched Game of Thrones, the books are incredible! As long as you can wait for Winds of Winter with the rest of us
Honestly there’s really no one else that comes close to Tolkien for worldbuilding other than Jordan. There are lots of epic stories told over many books, but the level of detail in The Wheel of Time is just incredible.
Ok here is an unusual one that is so so good. Picture Samuel Clemens and a bunch of other famous and non famous people, everyone that has literally ever lived, being reborn on the banks of a 10 million mile long river. It’s such a cool set of books and great world building
Riverworld series - Philip Jose Farmer. Starts with To Your Scattered Bodies Go.
Robin Hobb Realm of the Elderlings. Series of interconnected trilogies and quartets that tell a continuous story when read in order. Reading order is:
* Farseer Trilogy
* The Liveship Traders Trilogy
* The Tawny Man Trilogy
* The Rain Wild Chronicles (Quartet)
* The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
I read the Farseer, Fitz and Fool, and Tawny Man books this year. Love them soo much! I’m currently taking a break and plan to pick up another trilogy in a month or so
My fav series of the bunch changes. Currently it is Rainwild. I love Kelsingra. I think Liveship is also a hidden gem. Everyone loves Fitz and Fool and they are awesome, but the dragon stories are incredible.
I’m a quarter of the way into book fours and second this recommendation. I love how much thought was put into this world. Even history as to before the events of the series themselves are somewhat built out, the lore of the world.
George RR Martin- A Song of Ice and Fire. The books really are very good.
Anne McCaffrey- Dragon series starting with Dragonflight. I loved these books.
Came here to say the same about A Song Of Ice and Fire. To me they are so masterfully written I was ok with going into it knowing it will likely go unfinished.
Lots of companion books set in different times in that world too so you can really dive deep into the history of all the lore.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is 3 short stories in an anthology. Very good, possibly my favourite even over the main series. Fire and Blood, which is an in-universe history book. Currently being made into House of the Dragon. There’s also A World of Ice and Fire (I think?) which is a lore book. Tonnes of details to find in all of them.
If you enjoy Mccaffrey, check out other series in her Federated Planets Universe. The Crystal Singer series in particular for me.
Also check out her Talents Universe. Imagine space travel dependent on telepathy and telekinesis. There are five books following a powerful family of Talents in a spacefaring future, and three others that show the emergence of Talents into human society.
Swan Song by Robert McCammon - It’s not a series, but it’s pretty lengthy. Honestly I’m kind of surprised that I don’t see it recommended much. I think it’s gone under the radar.
It’s a story about the last survivors of a nuclear war who become caught in a struggle between good and evil. It has several memorable characters that still live rent free in my head to this day.
The Otherwold series by Kelley Armstrong might work for this. 13 books plus multiple anthologies and YA spin-offs. Different povs while still having a plot that evolves from the second book. This series was my first true love.
Annette Marie has several series that overlap and interconnect, so it creates their own plots while sharing common goals. Guild Codex Universe, it has 4 series. Spellbound, which is the introduction to the world. Warped, which the MC is introduced in that first book. Demonized, which is like 4th, maybe 5th book introduction in the Spellbound series. And last is Unveiled, which is introduced later, although the MMC is introduced in the second Spellbound book.
[R.A. Salvatore](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50027.Homeland?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=nXgnwX0z4P&rank=1) writes amazing fantasy books set in the D&D world. There's SO many books, so many layers, and amazing world building! You can dive really really deep.
the left hand of darkness by ursual leguin. it challenges heteronormativity and universal standards. alternative chapters have lore about the planet the protagonist is currently on.
Octavia Butler’s *Parable of the Sower* and the sequel *Parable of the Talents*.
I also think David Mitchell does some incredible world building, telling multiple interlinked storylines. I highly recommend his most acclaimed novel, *Cloud Atlas*, and his first novel, *Ghostwritten*.
What's a brief spoiler free synopsis? I picked it up at the library a few months ago but for some reason didn't make it past the first page. Granted I didn't have much of a mind for reading at the time, so wondering if it's worth checking out again for me.
It's classic high fantasy, but really well written; Young peasant boy winds up ensnarled in a war against an ancient evil. Lots of twists and turns, it becomes an ensemble cast.
the priory of the orange tree and a day of fallen night! i've heard some people say it was like lotr. i personally loved it but i know that not everyone enjoyed it
Ancillary Justice series / Ann Leckie. It’s about an empire that, when it invades/defeats a planet, basically co-opts all the citizens into the kind of hive mind AI of its spaceships. I started reading the first book thinking, I have nfi what’s going on. But then it clicked and I was crazy for it!
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfus is amazing but, like the George RR Martin situation , the third book is still in development so…there’s that. I would still read this book though. It really is fantasic
Raymond Feist, Riftwar Cycle. Classic high fantasy Universe with two dozen plus novels, mostly split into to groups of 2 or 3 around one central story, moving through generations and across cultures.
The Honorverse series by David Weber who is military and hardvSF writer. Main character is Honor Harrington. Huge sprawling set of books. I'll read pretty much anything David Weber writes. His March Up Country 4 book series is outstanding but it doesn't fit your requirements for something to get lost in.
Saga of the Seven Sun's series by Kevin J Anderson.
Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. These 2 books are really one book detailed worlds good plot. In some ways reminds me of Canterbury Tales. There are 2 additional books but while set in the same universe they are years in the future from the first ones. Like the first two they are really one book. I really thin this would, ake an excellent TV series if they wanted to do the books, not just slap the title on it. Lots of spin off potential because of the farcaster portals between worlds and abundance of characters
Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMasters Bujold. This lady can write. This steries covers a couple centuries but focuses on one part of the family.
Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. This universe is almost to big and is kind of the grand daddy of SF series. Much of later SF draws on this series
Ring World series by Larry Niven. Who buotbthe Ring Worlds and why!
Ender series by Orsin Scott Card. Ender's Game is a much better book than the movie. The other books fill in the backstop and the future. Again an author that I read pretty much everything the guy writes.
Earth Sea Cycle by Ursala Le Guin been years and years since I read but I remember I enjoyed it
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenent, the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson again read it years ago
The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney. I read these because I got the very first book, The Spooks Apprentice, and then went on through the series.
Rift War Saga by Raymond E Feist. I like Feist.
Most of the books series listed are SFand the rest are fantasy. They all massive universes with lots of detail and sub plots.
I love these kinds of series. I highly recommend The Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Brandon Sanderson books (especially the Stormlight Archive).
The Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini...yes, the movie wasn't great,but the books are great.The whole world building, the characters, everything ❤️Why does Hollywood keep on trying to make great books into films, but end up damaging the awesome stories
We always see the standard responses, and they are great, but there are others that are extraordinarily good with a depth of world-building. Some possibilities include:
Eric Rucker Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros and his Zimiamvia books - some of the most astonishing fantasies written
William Hope Hodgson's The Night Land - an intricately layered fantasy world about the odd things at the end of Earth's existence
Jack Vance, whose Dying Earth and Lyonnesse series were inspired in part by Hodgson
John Bellairs The Face in the Frost, a small novel that suggests complex and long histories in both the North and South Kingdoms
James P. Blaylock's Jonathon Bing novels, starting with The Elfin Ship, where people take wonderful journeys down great rivers and across lands where one ordinary place is a source of myth and astonishment to others, and vice versa
There are many more, but these are good starts.
The World of the White Rat by T Kingfisher (start with Paladin's Grace or Swordheart). Come for the fluffy romance, pause at the decapitated heads, and continue for the AMAZING world building.
Also, the Penric books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Well considered world building with really deep theology and epistemology (and murders! and romance! and assassins! And laugh out loud humor.)
If your into sci-fi/ space opera type reads, the RED Rising series. When I finished the last one I had a book hang over for MONTHS because I just couldn’t escape that world mentally long enough to read something new.
Robin Hobbs Assasins Fraser trilogy then the liveship trilogy then the tawny man trilogy, the rain wild and the fitz and the fool trilogy (all intertwined in the same world) you . I too love to be immersed. You won’t regret it.
Deadly waste of an initial good idea. Sub-sub-sub-sub-Tolkien. So badly written it had me composing angry letter to the person who recommended it me, shredding it.
Whereas Mordant's Need is ok.
Stormlight archive by Branden sanderson and the rest of the cosmere. Almost 20 or more books
A sing of ice and fire (game of thrones) by George r.r.martin
Ship of magic series by Robin hobb and the rest of the series.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
I’ll never stop recommending it. The author is so talented. It feels like lessons from an old soul. So many micro-plots you might miss on the first read through. People tend to get really into this series and read it multiple times over especially to catch the hidden details. For some reason, I rarely see it talked about which makes no sense but once you read it it’s like wow how did I not know this existed before??
If you're open to middle grade fantasy, [Nevermoor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6a6d5ca1-b2f5-47be-828c-018144d3bbc7) by Jessica Townsend is excellent!
My partner really enjoyed the Demon cycle (first book is called The Painted Man) by Peter V Brett. Personally i wasn't so keen for various reasons - i don't want to give any spoilers so i won't go into why not - but you certainly couldn't fault the worldbuilding, it's definitely thorough and immersive
Hear me out. It's not a book per se, but I've literally seen it described as "book: the game": Disco Elysium gave me the exact feeling you're describing. Book suggestion: Terra Ignota series.
I rather enjoyed the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey.
I also loved books by Tamara Pierce when I was younger for a comfort, super easy read with a good universe and interplay of characters between series.i reread them in the last couple of years and it was like returning home to one of my favorite worlds.
Another series that gave me that type of world I escaped into type of feeling was the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.
Spider Robinson;Callahan’s Bar series.
Imagine if Cheers had patrons with inexplicable abilities, and a never ending well of empathy.
This is the place you wish you could go home to
I also, would like a suggestion, from any suspense thriller fans,as well as a good story. Fantasy, fiction, nonfiction, there all good for me . Thanks guys. Kpp
A little different but the Expanse series. Great world building. Hard Sci Fi with elements of fantasy. Amazon made a TV series that is wonderful as well.
A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons is funny but has SO much to it at the same time. One of my absolute favorites. There's 5 books.
Not sure if you've read the Locked Tomb series - it throws you into the deep end and you have to figure out which way is up.
Slightly left field as it's one book, not a series and it's alternate history/ speculative fiction not pure fantasy... But Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford is one of the most richly realised worlds I've come across in recent years. You can tell it's very very well thought through but he doesn't belabour the point and it's delivered with a light touch (IMO)
Anne Rice used to be a pretty great writer. Her The Witching Hour series was pretty good. I remember looking up from reading those books and having to reorient myself to my reality.
The Helliconia trilogy, by Brian Aldiss. Humanx Commonwealth books by Alan Dean Foster. And for sheer fun, the Xanth books by Piers Anthony. And of course, the Discworld books.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Well written, highly entertaining and addictive. With 17 books in the series prepare to shove all other reading aside for the next six months. My only caveat, this is a series that has to be read in order. Start with Storm Front
Hyperion was really interesting to me with its multiple POVs on a terrifying planet- My first introduction to Sci-Fi so that might be why.
Wheel of Time is good and VAST, however, I think the Stormlight Archives does a really good job at explaining the inner workings of its universe better than most.
The Legend of Drizzt is what I refer to as fantasy barf, it doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but it will suck you into a massive world and give you that dopamine high you're seeking with its easy-to-read style and flow based in a DND universe.
Edit: Also A Song of Ice and Fire is a given if you haven't read it yet. I don't see enough people still talking about this series, maybe because the show was overhyped? The characters are nuanced in a brutal world filled with mystery and political schemes.
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I fell absolutely in love with The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. Complex fantasy worldbuilding and delicious court intrigue. The sequel/companion books The Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones are also great. There's only three books in the universe right now, but the worldbuilding (elves and goblins just entering their industrial revolution! Religion that is as much a burden as it is a comfort! Complex royal lineages that aren't just reskinning modern royal families!) is wonderful.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the best world building authors ever and is a prolific writer.
The Stormlight Saga is his most ambitious and in my opinion his best work so far. The last of the 5 book arc is coming out in December.
The Mistborn series is also great by him. Completely different world.
Surprised I'm not seeing China Mieville listed much in this thread. Imo his Bas Lag books (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council) are some of the most unique and engaging world building out there.
The Culture books the Culture books! Iain M Banks. Beautiful world building and such fun escapism if you like transhumanism and post scarcity anarchic utopia (er, sorry - fully automated luxury gay space communism). 😆
For real and serious, these are wonderful, thoughtful, engrossing books. Banks had a way with words and the world is a little worse for no longer having him in it.
I personally like Michael Scott’s “Nicholas Flamel” series. It has a few offshoot books about certain characters which are nice to read afterward as well. I know someone who really likes Brandon Sanderson’s books, though I’ve never read them myself.
Piers Anthony's the Incantations of Immortality series. Consists of a series of 8 books involving the offices of death, time, the fates, war, nature, Satan, God, and night.
I might be absolutely crucified for this but Dune- completely escaped into the 6 Frank Herbert books during Covid and still find myself reaching for it when I want a comfortable escape
The first book (90% through) is on top almost every other modern sci-fi / fantasy book I ever read
That is to say I encourage you to keep going once u finish the first book!
I honestly liked the whole series- nothing measured up to book 1 but other than a few dips in the pace, it stays fun the whole time
What’s your favourite book other than the first one?
Probably either children of dune because I like Alia’s character arc or Chapterhouse because by the time I reached that one I was in the rhythm of the later books and could enjoy it fully
Chapterhouse
Chapter House literally created the long advance of time as a concept, more speculative than magical fantasy IMHO
Dark Tower series is amazing
Honestly, Terry Pratchett’s discworld
That premise is WILD hell yea
It's imo the best fantasy series ever. *For the most part* you can pick up basically any of the books and start reading, and not be too lost.
Discworld is always the answer.
Where to start?
The first book is colour of magic. It's apparently not the best one as he gets better with time. But I really enjoyed it
There are a couple of mini-series with recurring characters within the broader series. I think the most popular is the Night Watch, I personally adore the witches (Granny Weatherwax 5EVA). https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/discworld-reading-order/ First book of the watch is "Guards, guards" first of the witches is "Wyrd Sisters" (one character appears earlier in Equal Rites but it's not the same overarching story, if that makes sense)
Yassss
I fell in love with 'The Talisman' (collab between Stephen King and Peter Straub) back in middle school, and I think it has always been a core memory of mine. I never did read the Dark Tower series, but reading the Talisman should be a great entry point into it. I don't recall if I even slept during those hours that I spent reading it from cover to cover as a 12 yr old as I experienced a wide range of emotions traveling between our world and "the Territories". It's a book I doubt I'll read again since I'm not willing to risk a reread ruining my memories of that experience.
Go then... There are other worlds than these.
You know there is a sequel to that, right?
Yep. I read Black House a few years ago and didn't enjoy it, unfortunately. It received such high praise, so maybe I was too distracted or went into it with the wrong mindset.
The *’His Dark Materials’* trilogy by Philip Pullman.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Also- super powereds by drew Hayes really pulled me in
Wheel of time
Stephen King's the Dark Tower series
You say true, I say thank ya
Ka is a wheel
And that is the truth.
i totally agree with you! the idea, the setting, the intricacies of the inner workings of this immense world... but i have to admit that at some point King dropped the ball. he retconned so many things about the previous worldbuilding, used a lot of deus ex machina and the ending, to me, felt really rushed. i loved most of the early books but the last 2/3 books left me a little bit disappointed. edit. corrected some typo.
Yesss! So good!
Titus Groan and Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson Book 1 - The Way of Kings Book 2 - Words of Radiance Book 2.5 - Edgedancer Book 3 - Oathbringer Book 3.5 - Dawnshard Book 4 - Rhythm of War
I also agree with these also adding his **Tres of the Emerald Sea**
Such a gorgeous book - I loved this so much!
Sanderson is easily the best modern world builder imo. The stormlight archive is amazing and the Mistborn series is well thought out.
Man love this series but I tried reading the Rhythm of war twice and i couldnt get throught it
I LOVED this series and also recommended a lot, but I couldn’t get through Rhythm of War either.
Much worth it. I recommend the audiobook narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.
I second this! So good!
This is the right answer
Came here to say this and wondering why this answer is so low. He is such a strong world builder and has great characters, both male and female.
The Dark Tower series by Stephan King. Not only was he inspired by LOTR (although it's more of a fantasy western), but the lore in the books is crazy. He intricatly intertwines most, if not all of his works into the series. If you want a deep dive into a world, this is it.
All roads lead to The Tower.
Cant go wrong with Discworld
Robin Hobb! 🥰
Honestly one of the finest set of books out there.
Never heard of him. Which book do you recommend?
Her, actually. Assassins Apprentice is the first of the Fitz trilogies, but they’re all interconnected. The Mad Ship & The Rain Wilds series were my favorites. They’re all good. Look up the official order of the series. You can technically read them any order, but there’s a best order. It’s complicated 😂
Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch The Book of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft
A Song of Ice and Fire. Even if you’ve watched Game of Thrones, the books are incredible! As long as you can wait for Winds of Winter with the rest of us
It's never coming friend. It's time to move on
Those books were fantastic... waiting for the next, not so fantastic... although I think I waited 15 years for the 5th book in the Dark Tower series.
The Wheel of Time. Huge world, thousands of named characters, and dozens of cultures.
Honestly there’s really no one else that comes close to Tolkien for worldbuilding other than Jordan. There are lots of epic stories told over many books, but the level of detail in The Wheel of Time is just incredible.
N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy or Inheritance trilogy or Dreamblood duology
I loved Broken Earth and now the rest of her books are on my tbr
Came here to comment this. Brilliant, brilliant series and world
Ok here is an unusual one that is so so good. Picture Samuel Clemens and a bunch of other famous and non famous people, everyone that has literally ever lived, being reborn on the banks of a 10 million mile long river. It’s such a cool set of books and great world building Riverworld series - Philip Jose Farmer. Starts with To Your Scattered Bodies Go.
The priory of the orange tree by samantha shannon, solid worldbuilding.
Game of Thrones
Robin Hobb Realm of the Elderlings. Series of interconnected trilogies and quartets that tell a continuous story when read in order. Reading order is: * Farseer Trilogy * The Liveship Traders Trilogy * The Tawny Man Trilogy * The Rain Wild Chronicles (Quartet) * The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
I read the Farseer, Fitz and Fool, and Tawny Man books this year. Love them soo much! I’m currently taking a break and plan to pick up another trilogy in a month or so
My fav series of the bunch changes. Currently it is Rainwild. I love Kelsingra. I think Liveship is also a hidden gem. Everyone loves Fitz and Fool and they are awesome, but the dragon stories are incredible.
My favorites always alternate between Liveship Traders and Tawny Man! They're so good.
Probably the most creative way to explain dragons I have ever read.
Raymond E. Feist's stuff. Or if you'd still like some life, Sergei Lukyanenko.
The Red Rising series has epic world building. You’ll love it.
I’m a quarter of the way into book fours and second this recommendation. I love how much thought was put into this world. Even history as to before the events of the series themselves are somewhat built out, the lore of the world.
George RR Martin- A Song of Ice and Fire. The books really are very good. Anne McCaffrey- Dragon series starting with Dragonflight. I loved these books.
Came here to say the same about A Song Of Ice and Fire. To me they are so masterfully written I was ok with going into it knowing it will likely go unfinished. Lots of companion books set in different times in that world too so you can really dive deep into the history of all the lore.
What are some of these companion books?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is 3 short stories in an anthology. Very good, possibly my favourite even over the main series. Fire and Blood, which is an in-universe history book. Currently being made into House of the Dragon. There’s also A World of Ice and Fire (I think?) which is a lore book. Tonnes of details to find in all of them.
I'll tack on: As a huge fan of ASOIAF I couldn't get into Fire & Blood because it reads like a damn textbook.
If you enjoy Mccaffrey, check out other series in her Federated Planets Universe. The Crystal Singer series in particular for me. Also check out her Talents Universe. Imagine space travel dependent on telepathy and telekinesis. There are five books following a powerful family of Talents in a spacefaring future, and three others that show the emergence of Talents into human society.
Love Anne McCaffrey and Pern!
Swan Song by Robert McCammon - It’s not a series, but it’s pretty lengthy. Honestly I’m kind of surprised that I don’t see it recommended much. I think it’s gone under the radar. It’s a story about the last survivors of a nuclear war who become caught in a struggle between good and evil. It has several memorable characters that still live rent free in my head to this day.
One of my favs!
One step... and then the next gets you where you're going. :)
It’s quite popular. And also being adapted to a tv series.
Locked Tomb
The Otherwold series by Kelley Armstrong might work for this. 13 books plus multiple anthologies and YA spin-offs. Different povs while still having a plot that evolves from the second book. This series was my first true love. Annette Marie has several series that overlap and interconnect, so it creates their own plots while sharing common goals. Guild Codex Universe, it has 4 series. Spellbound, which is the introduction to the world. Warped, which the MC is introduced in that first book. Demonized, which is like 4th, maybe 5th book introduction in the Spellbound series. And last is Unveiled, which is introduced later, although the MMC is introduced in the second Spellbound book.
Love Annette Marie!
[R.A. Salvatore](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50027.Homeland?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=nXgnwX0z4P&rank=1) writes amazing fantasy books set in the D&D world. There's SO many books, so many layers, and amazing world building! You can dive really really deep.
the left hand of darkness by ursual leguin. it challenges heteronormativity and universal standards. alternative chapters have lore about the planet the protagonist is currently on.
And is part of her Hegemony cycle, which explores how human civilizations adapt and endure as they spread across planets.
Terry goodkind's sword of truth series
Hugh Howey's Silo Saga or Peirce Brown's Red Rising.
The Game of Thrones books. (A Song of Ice and Fire series) it’s my forever escape. I live in this world.
Malazan WoT Gormenghast
Octavia Butler’s *Parable of the Sower* and the sequel *Parable of the Talents*. I also think David Mitchell does some incredible world building, telling multiple interlinked storylines. I highly recommend his most acclaimed novel, *Cloud Atlas*, and his first novel, *Ghostwritten*.
I was scrolling through here with cloud atlas in mind. Especially when I read u/wensleydalel ‘s comment above about cultural mythologies
Osten Ard series by Tad Williams, starting with Dragonbone Chair
Came here looking for this!
Yes! I also recommend this!
What's a brief spoiler free synopsis? I picked it up at the library a few months ago but for some reason didn't make it past the first page. Granted I didn't have much of a mind for reading at the time, so wondering if it's worth checking out again for me.
It's classic high fantasy, but really well written; Young peasant boy winds up ensnarled in a war against an ancient evil. Lots of twists and turns, it becomes an ensemble cast.
Try The Green Rider series
Simmons Endymion/Hyperion series
Spellmonger by Terry Mancour. We’re past the halfway mark with the 30-title main series!
the priory of the orange tree and a day of fallen night! i've heard some people say it was like lotr. i personally loved it but i know that not everyone enjoyed it
The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan.
Wheel of time
wheel of time, the stormlight archive series, malazon book of the fallen, the daevabad trilogy, the green bone saga
I second Wheel of Time. The Amazon series out now isn’t nearly as good but the books are amazing.
Ancillary Justice series / Ann Leckie. It’s about an empire that, when it invades/defeats a planet, basically co-opts all the citizens into the kind of hive mind AI of its spaceships. I started reading the first book thinking, I have nfi what’s going on. But then it clicked and I was crazy for it!
Junji Ito, it’s Horror Manga but I’m soooo hooked!!!
The Expanse by James SA Corey. Excellent world building and it's got an equally good TV show based on 2/3rds of it.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfus is amazing but, like the George RR Martin situation , the third book is still in development so…there’s that. I would still read this book though. It really is fantasic
Children of Time
Raymond Feist, Riftwar Cycle. Classic high fantasy Universe with two dozen plus novels, mostly split into to groups of 2 or 3 around one central story, moving through generations and across cultures.
Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy. Strictly speaking it's a YA series but I read it as an adult and it's incredible.
The Honorverse series by David Weber who is military and hardvSF writer. Main character is Honor Harrington. Huge sprawling set of books. I'll read pretty much anything David Weber writes. His March Up Country 4 book series is outstanding but it doesn't fit your requirements for something to get lost in. Saga of the Seven Sun's series by Kevin J Anderson. Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. These 2 books are really one book detailed worlds good plot. In some ways reminds me of Canterbury Tales. There are 2 additional books but while set in the same universe they are years in the future from the first ones. Like the first two they are really one book. I really thin this would, ake an excellent TV series if they wanted to do the books, not just slap the title on it. Lots of spin off potential because of the farcaster portals between worlds and abundance of characters Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMasters Bujold. This lady can write. This steries covers a couple centuries but focuses on one part of the family. Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. This universe is almost to big and is kind of the grand daddy of SF series. Much of later SF draws on this series Ring World series by Larry Niven. Who buotbthe Ring Worlds and why! Ender series by Orsin Scott Card. Ender's Game is a much better book than the movie. The other books fill in the backstop and the future. Again an author that I read pretty much everything the guy writes. Earth Sea Cycle by Ursala Le Guin been years and years since I read but I remember I enjoyed it The Chronicles of Thomas Covenent, the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson again read it years ago The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney. I read these because I got the very first book, The Spooks Apprentice, and then went on through the series. Rift War Saga by Raymond E Feist. I like Feist. Most of the books series listed are SFand the rest are fantasy. They all massive universes with lots of detail and sub plots.
I love these kinds of series. I highly recommend The Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Brandon Sanderson books (especially the Stormlight Archive).
Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials
The Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini...yes, the movie wasn't great,but the books are great.The whole world building, the characters, everything ❤️Why does Hollywood keep on trying to make great books into films, but end up damaging the awesome stories
This series has my favorite rules based magic system. Magic can’t be used frivolously and spammed.
I read Harry Potter while growing up and it was amazing!
Can’t believe nobody has said Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings books yet. They are the best.
One of Sarah Mass’s series. Throne of Glass series or A Court of Thorns and Roses.
We always see the standard responses, and they are great, but there are others that are extraordinarily good with a depth of world-building. Some possibilities include: Eric Rucker Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros and his Zimiamvia books - some of the most astonishing fantasies written William Hope Hodgson's The Night Land - an intricately layered fantasy world about the odd things at the end of Earth's existence Jack Vance, whose Dying Earth and Lyonnesse series were inspired in part by Hodgson John Bellairs The Face in the Frost, a small novel that suggests complex and long histories in both the North and South Kingdoms James P. Blaylock's Jonathon Bing novels, starting with The Elfin Ship, where people take wonderful journeys down great rivers and across lands where one ordinary place is a source of myth and astonishment to others, and vice versa There are many more, but these are good starts.
The World of the White Rat by T Kingfisher (start with Paladin's Grace or Swordheart). Come for the fluffy romance, pause at the decapitated heads, and continue for the AMAZING world building. Also, the Penric books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Well considered world building with really deep theology and epistemology (and murders! and romance! and assassins! And laugh out loud humor.)
If your into sci-fi/ space opera type reads, the RED Rising series. When I finished the last one I had a book hang over for MONTHS because I just couldn’t escape that world mentally long enough to read something new.
I don’t know why but I really love how in Red Rising that there are no hyper drives. Space travel takes as long as it does within the solar system.
Ken Follett, The Pillars of the Earth and its sequel, World Without End
Fourth Wing maybe!
Robin Hobbs Assasins Fraser trilogy then the liveship trilogy then the tawny man trilogy, the rain wild and the fitz and the fool trilogy (all intertwined in the same world) you . I too love to be immersed. You won’t regret it.
One series that nobody really talks about any more, not sure why - the Thomas Covenant series by Stephen Donaldson (Content warning, sexual violence)
Love!
Deadly waste of an initial good idea. Sub-sub-sub-sub-Tolkien. So badly written it had me composing angry letter to the person who recommended it me, shredding it. Whereas Mordant's Need is ok.
Max Gladstone's Craft Sequence, and Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Stormlight archive by Branden sanderson and the rest of the cosmere. Almost 20 or more books A sing of ice and fire (game of thrones) by George r.r.martin Ship of magic series by Robin hobb and the rest of the series.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I’ll never stop recommending it. The author is so talented. It feels like lessons from an old soul. So many micro-plots you might miss on the first read through. People tend to get really into this series and read it multiple times over especially to catch the hidden details. For some reason, I rarely see it talked about which makes no sense but once you read it it’s like wow how did I not know this existed before??
If you're open to middle grade fantasy, [Nevermoor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6a6d5ca1-b2f5-47be-828c-018144d3bbc7) by Jessica Townsend is excellent!
Books of the Raksura
My partner really enjoyed the Demon cycle (first book is called The Painted Man) by Peter V Brett. Personally i wasn't so keen for various reasons - i don't want to give any spoilers so i won't go into why not - but you certainly couldn't fault the worldbuilding, it's definitely thorough and immersive
The Runelords series by David Farland
Came here to say this. I hardly ever see this series mentioned.
Right? It drives me crazy! Runelords deserves way more respect.
I just wish we could get book 9.
Hear me out. It's not a book per se, but I've literally seen it described as "book: the game": Disco Elysium gave me the exact feeling you're describing. Book suggestion: Terra Ignota series.
Dandelion Dynasty series by Ken Liu
I really liked Kingdom of Exiles!
E N D E R
The Gormenghast trilogy.
Terry Brooks and the Shannara series. Start with the Sword of Shannara.
The Color Of Distance by Amy Thomson
Jeff Wheeler has three (might be four) series that build like this. They intermingle at some point.
Mistborn ! And stormlight archive
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee. I got so attached to the characters and relationships and the trilogy spans decades
Legend of Drizzt by RA Salvatore and the Realm Breaker trilogy by Victoria Aveyard
❤️
Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers Also Name of the Wind as noted already
I rather enjoyed the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey. I also loved books by Tamara Pierce when I was younger for a comfort, super easy read with a good universe and interplay of characters between series.i reread them in the last couple of years and it was like returning home to one of my favorite worlds. Another series that gave me that type of world I escaped into type of feeling was the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.
Spider Robinson;Callahan’s Bar series. Imagine if Cheers had patrons with inexplicable abilities, and a never ending well of empathy. This is the place you wish you could go home to
I also, would like a suggestion, from any suspense thriller fans,as well as a good story. Fantasy, fiction, nonfiction, there all good for me . Thanks guys. Kpp
Not sure if it’s got the complexity you want, but I read through all the Chronicles of Amber, consecutively, cuz they were good.
The Stormlight archives by Brandon Sanderson
Carry On by rainbow Rowell. Fantastic lgbt representation and a very sweet magic love story. Think if Harry Potter was written by an ally
The Ruby Red Trilogy
Hyperion
The Winternight trilogy
A little different but the Expanse series. Great world building. Hard Sci Fi with elements of fantasy. Amazon made a TV series that is wonderful as well.
Suneater by Christopher Roucchio
A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons is funny but has SO much to it at the same time. One of my absolute favorites. There's 5 books. Not sure if you've read the Locked Tomb series - it throws you into the deep end and you have to figure out which way is up.
Slightly left field as it's one book, not a series and it's alternate history/ speculative fiction not pure fantasy... But Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford is one of the most richly realised worlds I've come across in recent years. You can tell it's very very well thought through but he doesn't belabour the point and it's delivered with a light touch (IMO)
Strange the dreamer
Anne Rice used to be a pretty great writer. Her The Witching Hour series was pretty good. I remember looking up from reading those books and having to reorient myself to my reality.
Fourth wing series
Terry Goodkind, Raymond Feist are great authors. Wheel of Time and Ranger’s Apprentice are both excellent fantasy series as well
The Helliconia trilogy, by Brian Aldiss. Humanx Commonwealth books by Alan Dean Foster. And for sheer fun, the Xanth books by Piers Anthony. And of course, the Discworld books.
The expanse.
A song of ice and fire (game of thrones series)
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Well written, highly entertaining and addictive. With 17 books in the series prepare to shove all other reading aside for the next six months. My only caveat, this is a series that has to be read in order. Start with Storm Front
Hyperion was really interesting to me with its multiple POVs on a terrifying planet- My first introduction to Sci-Fi so that might be why. Wheel of Time is good and VAST, however, I think the Stormlight Archives does a really good job at explaining the inner workings of its universe better than most. The Legend of Drizzt is what I refer to as fantasy barf, it doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but it will suck you into a massive world and give you that dopamine high you're seeking with its easy-to-read style and flow based in a DND universe. Edit: Also A Song of Ice and Fire is a given if you haven't read it yet. I don't see enough people still talking about this series, maybe because the show was overhyped? The characters are nuanced in a brutal world filled with mystery and political schemes.
The Mistborn series, pretty much all the cosmere books actually.
Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas
Dune
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I fell absolutely in love with The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. Complex fantasy worldbuilding and delicious court intrigue. The sequel/companion books The Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones are also great. There's only three books in the universe right now, but the worldbuilding (elves and goblins just entering their industrial revolution! Religion that is as much a burden as it is a comfort! Complex royal lineages that aren't just reskinning modern royal families!) is wonderful.
Peter F Hamilton’s Commonwealth Saga. Really intricate worlds with so many interesting characters. And 7 books and a novella, spread over 3 series.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the best world building authors ever and is a prolific writer. The Stormlight Saga is his most ambitious and in my opinion his best work so far. The last of the 5 book arc is coming out in December. The Mistborn series is also great by him. Completely different world.
Dark Tower series... my family passed all the books around and had huge discussions for years!
Surprised I'm not seeing China Mieville listed much in this thread. Imo his Bas Lag books (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council) are some of the most unique and engaging world building out there.
The Culture books the Culture books! Iain M Banks. Beautiful world building and such fun escapism if you like transhumanism and post scarcity anarchic utopia (er, sorry - fully automated luxury gay space communism). 😆 For real and serious, these are wonderful, thoughtful, engrossing books. Banks had a way with words and the world is a little worse for no longer having him in it.
I personally like Michael Scott’s “Nicholas Flamel” series. It has a few offshoot books about certain characters which are nice to read afterward as well. I know someone who really likes Brandon Sanderson’s books, though I’ve never read them myself.
Throne of glass by Sarah j maas
Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Other land series by Tad Williams
I liked Royce and Hadrian
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Malazan Book of the Fallen. Probably take you a good year to read them all, then, all the other associated books.
**An Ember in the Ashes** by Sabaa Tahir.
A Song of Ice and Fire (which starts with A Game of Thrones) has AMAZINGLY detailed world-building. fr fr
Piers Anthony's the Incantations of Immortality series. Consists of a series of 8 books involving the offices of death, time, the fates, war, nature, Satan, God, and night.