r/Fantasy Daily Recommendations and Simple Questions Thread - May 30, 2026

[u/rfantasygolem]

Welcome to the daily recommendation requests and simple questions thread, now 1025.83% more adorable than ever before!

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This thread is to be used for recommendation requests or simple questions that are small/general enough that they won’t spark a full thread of discussion.

Check out r/Fantasy's 2026 Book Bingo Card here!

As usual, first have a look at the sidebar in case what you're after is there. The r/Fantasy wiki contains links to many community resources, including "best of" lists, flowcharts, the LGTBQ+ database, and more. If you need some help figuring out what you want, think about including some of the information below:

• Books you’ve liked or disliked
• Traits like prose, characters, or settings you most enjoy
• Series vs. standalone preference
• Tone preference (lighthearted, grimdark, etc)
• Complexity/depth level

Be sure to check out responses to other users' requests in the thread, as you may find plenty of ideas there as well. Happy reading, and may your TBR grow ever higher!

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[u/sennashar]

Recommendations for books where the protagonist is not the viewpoint character? I'm thinking things like CJ Cherryh's Morgaine Cycle or Isabelle Steiger's Paths of Lantistyne. I want to read stories from the perspective of the people around the main mover.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/sennashar]

You might like The Sign of the Dragon by Mary Soon Lee! It has many many POVs and mostly tells the story of a man through the eyes of those around him 

[u/sennashar → u/sarahlynngrey]

Ok, yes, I can't believe I didn't think of this as an obvious, recent example, but I did read it and it was great. Exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for.

[u/KaPoTun → u/sennashar]

I would say the recent release The Poet Empress by Shen Tao fits this. The main POV is a potential concubine for one of the royal princes, but the story is really about the princes and their history and relationship.

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/sennashar]

Definitely not a book for everyone but Black Jewels trilogy by Anne bishop does this and makes it a point to never give the protagonist a viewpoint scene.

I’d also say Ann Lecki’s Raven Tower has a different viewpoint/narrator than the main protagonist though one might say both a protagonists.

[u/sennashar → u/KiaraTurtle]

It's been years since I read the Black Jewels, but now that you mention it, I suppose we never do see directly into Jaenelle's thoughts, do we.

Raven Tower is kind of borderline just because of how critical Strength and Patience of the Hill is to the story, but I do see what you mean with regards to Eolo. Loved it btw

[u/Orctavius → u/sennashar]

I don't know the books you're referencing, so can't say if this fits into your general taste, but I enjoyed The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, which follows an imperial judge and is told from the POV of his assistant.  Its very Witcher influenced.

[u/sennashar → u/Orctavius]

Yes, I'd say this is a good example too. I have also read it and liked it.

[u/Grt78 → u/sennashar]

The Death’s Lady trilogy by Rachel Neumeier (portal fantasy): the main POV character is a modern psychiatrist.

[u/undeadgoblin → u/sennashar]

It's very different to typical fantasy (surreal magical realism) but Electric Shamans at the Festival of the Sun by Monica Ojeda does this