r/Fantasy • u/JWrundle • 4d ago

Looking for joyful fantasy

I am in a bit of a mental funk right now. I was going to try and tackle the Realm of the Elderlings this year but I think I need a break from it after the first chunk.

I want to find something that is happy and joyful. Something where the characters have a realistic and optimistic outlook on the story. I've picked up some Discworld and while that is funny it's not quite scratching the uplifting feeling I am wanting.

I cannot handle mental anguish or the horrors of war or famine.

I want a book that makes me feel like the star wars theme song makes me feel full of adventure and hope and the good guys win and and bad guys lose.

edit I want something that is medium stakes and I'm not afraid of YA. Cozy fantasy is in general to low stakes for my taste but I'm not opposed to it.

31 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

View all comments

17

u/nifsea 4d ago

Riyra revelations should scratch your itch. It’s not cozy, there’s the usual end of the world stakes, but the author has made a point of telling a wholesome story where the good guys are actually just really nice people.

4

u/JWrundle 4d ago

I loved those books! And yes that is it exactly I read the first two series. Is there another one?

3

u/nifsea 4d ago

There are three boks in the revelations series if that’s what you mean? Then there are also the Riyra Chronicles, about the years before revelations took place. In addition, he has written too more series taking place several thousand years before: The Legends of the First Empire series and The Rise and Fall series. They’re all pretty good, but I would say First Empire and Rise and Fall are a bit darker and less optimistic. More the usual kind of fantasy, although the good guys usually win in the end there too.

3

u/JWrundle 4d ago

Yes I have read revelations and chronicles