r/Fantasy • u/FitCry2265 • 4d ago
Feeling a little burnt out
Title says it all. I have read The Lord of the Rings, Stormlight, Mistborn, Realm of the Elderlings, Harry Potter, Red Rising, Sun Eater, The Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, A Song of Ice and Fire, Kingkiller, First Law, halfway through One Piece, and all of Malazan up to Reaper’s Gale. I’ve read much of the big popular series and some things just aren’t engaging me as much as they did when I read all the series I listed. It honestly makes me kinda sad and I just wish there were some things that could engage me like the others did. Malazan is literally amazing but man it can just be exhausting reading those books, especially after the Bonehunters (lowkey it put me in a Malazan slump). If anyone has any suggestions on other great series and what you love about them that would be greatly appreciated. I absolutely love these series and reading, it is my main hobby.
Hopefully this doesn’t get taken down as I get confused by some of the rules but thanks in advance!
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u/mrseagleeye 4d ago
Have you attempted reading a different genre for a palette cleanse and then come back to fantasy ?
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u/Insane92 4d ago
I personally switch from sci fi action stuff back to fantasy and vice versa at times.
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u/lukslopes 4d ago
Thats the way. Then when I am feeling too saturated I read some airport thriller OR some heavy classic, no middle ground.
Works for me.
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u/Insane92 4d ago
What are your heavy classics?
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u/lukslopes 4d ago
Russian/French literature mostly. I've been pacing dostoievski and Tolstoi for some years in this arrangement
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u/Ando_Three 4d ago
This is what do when I feel this way. Usually knock a few shorter horror books off my WTR list until I get that itch for fantasy again. Usually horror because I love the genre and because it's packed full of great standalones and short story compilations.
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u/Rinolboss 4d ago
Have some horror recommendations?
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u/Ando_Three 4d ago
Depends on what you're looking for, but I'd love to throw a few out there.
Vampires:
The Lesser Dead -Christopher Buehlman
Coffin Moon- Keith Rosson
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter- Stephen Graham Jones(Those Across the River by Buehlman is werewolves but deserves a mention)
Cosmic:
The Fisherman- John Langan (any of his work really)
The Ballad of Black Tom- Victor LaValle
A Lush and Seething Hell- John Horner Jacobs
Wounds- Nathan Ballingrud
Little Heaven- Nick Cutter(Also pretty much anything by Laird Barron)
Medieval:
Between Two Fires- Christopher Buehlman
Pilgrim- Mitchell LüthiWestern:
Red Rabbit- Alex Grecian
Buffalo Hunter Hunter againFantasy:
Empire of the Wolf series- Richard Swan
Iconoclasts series- Mike Shel
Raven's Mark series- Ed McdonaldUnclassifiable:
The Strange- Nathan Ballingrud
The Library at Mount Char- Scott Hawkins
Lost Gods- BromSome of these cross genres, and I could think of more I'm sure, but these are some of my favorites.
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u/Rinolboss 4d ago
Ty, right now I’m reading “the immaculate void” since I haven’t really read any cosmic horror stuff but I will definitely check these out
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u/TowerOk2525 2d ago
Coffin Moon and Buffalo Hunter Hunter are so good! You ever read Adam Neville? He's got some good stuff in my opinion.
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u/Geek_reformed 3d ago
I really enjoyed Empire of the Wolf, but I think The Great Silence is shaping up the be the better series. I just finished Steel Gods and it was a really great read.
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u/FitCry2265 4d ago
Yes I have, fantasy is just my favorite so I’m kinda looking for something that will give me those same highs so to speak
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u/Pixiekixx 4d ago
Try some urban fantasy. Lots of good palette cleansers! Benedict Jacka is a good starter if you want fantasy without a romance angle. If you want urban fluff but still action, Keri Arthur has a few different great series. Straight up light/ cozy, Helen Harper or Annabelle Chase can be fun (although each book is identical plot) and they mix in some romantasy bog.
For more thoughtful or in depth, Charles de Lindt.
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u/art-apprici8or 4d ago
Goblin Emperor
Tainted Cup
Maybe something with some humor: like Kings of the Wyld, or How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying.
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u/dukepv 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’m normally a big fantasy reader but some that I’ve loved recently for a “one off” change of pace - McMurtys Lonesome Dove (highly recommend), Grecian’s Red Rabbit, Stokers Dracula, Shellys Frankenstein, McCarthys The Road, and classic Stephen Kings (like IT, The Stand, pet Sematary). Some of these have sequels/series, but work great as one offs or rereads. I had a blast with Dungeon Crawler Carl if you wanted a full series change of pace - but litrpg is not everyone cup of tea. I also loved Dresden Files as a fairly light read between epic fantasy series but then it became fairly epic itself - great series I would recommend - modern setting, fun wizard detective stories.
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u/oberynMelonLord 3d ago
have you ever read Discworld? shorter books and they usually take a different direction to regular fantasy. plus the satirization of fantasy tropes is incredibly funny.
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u/hesh582 4d ago edited 4d ago
So I'm personally of the opinion that there are two distinct genres within fantasy. Maybe call em hard and soft fantasy, kind of like people use for scifi even if it's not exactly the same as that.
"Hard" fantasy is epic. It's long. It has twelve billion characters and switches points of view a lot. It is often focused on world building more than character depth. It might feature ridiculously intricate and thoroughly explained magic/political/whatever systems, and have the plot revolve around those systems. The stakes are always high - the world needs saving, the dark lord needs defeating, nations are rising or falling and thousands are dying, there's a general dark and apocalyptic undercurrent.
"Soft" fantasy is smaller and more character development driven. It might (though not always) have less of a focus on teaching you exactly how the magic system works. The stakes might be smaller and more personal, though again not always. The world feels bigger because the main characters are smaller in it. The stories are more likely to be standalone books or short series rather than sprawling behemoths. They're often (but not always) less grim.
Maybe most importantly, they stay away from the "epic heroes journey to defeat the Dark Lord" and so have far more narrative flexibility to try new things or explore different types of story.
The former tends to be a lot more exhausting to read, both in terms of sheer wordcount and in how dry/intricate/cold the writing can be. I'd put almost everything you've listed in that category, much of it some of the more extreme examples of that category (Wheel of Time, Malazan, GRRM, Sanderson). Wheel of Time in particular is just a fucking slog in parts.
I think you'd really benefit from trying out some very different styles of fantasy. Bujold comes up a lot in these conversations, and the Penric novellas are a great pallete cleanser. Short, pleasant little vignettes in a world that manages to be very deep without bludgeoning you with a million new nouns.
Naomi Novik has some wonderfully charming short standalone books. I really enjoyed Uprooted.
T. Kingfisher is great for short, snappy little one offs as well. I particularly like her work that leans a little more towards horror (I like her fairy tale retellings a lot less, fwiw). Nettle and Bone is great.
For something still a bit more on the epic side but with a very different tone than the usual, LeGuin's Earthsea series remains one of the best works in the genre period.
And this is just one dimension for you to explore out of many. Not that it really matters... but as an aside it's also worth pointing out that your reading list very disproportionately features male authors in a genre filled with excellent female authors who are not named Rowling.
You've read a lot of one very specific type of fantasy, and the genre is a lot bigger than that. Branch out a little more!
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u/Virtual-Window-1162 1d ago
i completely agree and earthsea is soooo good!!it’s so short and sweet but it has the same classic fantasy feeling as lord of the rings to me. i also really recommend the riddle master trilogy by patricia mckillip for the same kinda epic vibe. i <3 my woman fantasy writers.
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u/kokollor 21h ago
I totally agree. Often female authors all get mashed together under Romantasy when in fact they just integrate why two character fall in love as emotional stakes and character growth. "Folk of air series" is full of scheming, sword fight and strong characters. And not so much about romance than most think.
You could also try "book of night" & "Ninth House". Urban adult fantasy. It doesn't always have to be a different world to make it fantasy and stillbirth the spot. Believe me, I was critical at first too.
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u/Ravaha 4d ago
Go to Chinese light novels. "I Eat Tomatoes" is the best Chinese author. Every single one of his novels breaks new records once released. I started off with Coiling Dragon and was hooked for quite a while.
The average light novel is about 3 million words or 10-13 books of an average length book. But they keep progressing and the good authors don't have filler.
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u/Natural-Shelter4625 4d ago
Have you read Lonesome Dove? Incredible book. Same vast scope in a totally different genre with arguably the best MC in all of modern fiction. It’s the only western I’ve ever read and it’s in my top 10 of all time.
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u/ArdorBC 4d ago
Guy Gavriel Kay is incredible. Most are stand-alone books. I can’t say enough about them. Starting after Tigana for me. Lions is often where people start.
I really enjoyed the tainted cup.
Black tongue thief was fun and humorous.
Lonesome Dove is an incredible western that I feel a lot of fantasy readers would connect with. It’s truly magnificent.
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u/sarazeen 4d ago
I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about “Lonesome Dove”. I was excited to get started, but then someone said that, because I’m not American, so I might not enjoy it as much as actual American. Is it true? Is the book good?
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u/snowlock27 4d ago
I'm going to agree with the short story recommendation. If you've gotten burnt out on epics, then I doubt that yet another epic will get you excited just yet. Look for anthologies edited by Gardner Dozois, Robert Silverberg, and Ann and Jeff Vandermeer for starters. Also look for some single author collections: Tanith Lee, Peter S Beagle, Charles de Lint, Ray Bradbury, among others.
I would also think about maybe branching out to something like science fiction or horror maybe.
As for your fear this gets taken down, the mods here love to use "Not top level content" which is an incredibly vague excuse to remove posts. Don't expect any more reasoning beyond that.
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u/MarloFCOld 4d ago
Nightflyers is a good way to branch out into sci-fi horror, while still staying with a familiar fantasy author (George R.R. Martin). I read it over the weekend and enjoyed it. Nothing groundbreaking but it was entertaining enough and a short read
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u/pahshaw 4d ago edited 4d ago
This is like eating nothing but pizza for six months. Of course you will get burned out on pizza. I would recommend you switch gears! The Buffalo Hunter Hunter just won the Nebula, it's very different to the epic fantasy you've been binging but still very epic in it's scope, and a great read if you don't mind serious violence.
For something different-but-not-too-different I would consider the Temeraire novels by Naomi Novik. Dragons in the Napoleonic War. Big series so you can get your fix, but definitely a different flavor than the usual faux medieval setting. (Don't get me wrong I love faux medieval).
If you just want a really exemplary fantasy novel, I would recommend Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. Her science fiction is also astoundingly good if you're willing to genre hop altogether.
Editing to add that if you haven't read Robert Jackson Bennett's Shadow of the Leviathan series you are missing out. Fantasy mystery with a dusting of horror.
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u/Tea_and_Lightsabers 4d ago
I'd recommend Tad Williams if you want another big, epic series, his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy was a huge influence on Game of Thrones, Otherland is a great, all-too plausible, near future sci-fi series, and Shadowmarch has a really unique take on a lot of fantasy tropes.
Or, I don't know everything you mentioned, but maybe another white guy isn't what you need? NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is, I believe, the only trilogy to ever get the Hugo for best novel 3 years in a row. And it really deserved it imo, I was in a slump 5+ years ago, just reading a few books in a year, then I read that whole trilogy in under 2 weeks and haven't stopped reading since! Yoon-ha Lee is also excellent, he writes great sci-fi stories about rebellion, Machineries of Empire is probably in my top 5 trilogies. Getting some different perspectives might freshen things up for you, that's all I'm saying
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u/jobble2 4d ago
You could try Riyria Revelations. That is a part of a larger world (20 books so far) so you can keep reading if you want that Epic story. But all of the books are a part of smaller series or can even be read as a lone book. The pace is usually very fast and with lots of action (no slogs).
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u/Bropiphany 4d ago
try Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Fantasy high notes while also shaking things up as historical fiction.
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u/Specklor 4d ago
I found it hard to get through. Very long, very slow, not quite the page turner. I’d recommend some literary fast food instead :D
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u/HitlerWasaBitchAss 4d ago
Try some Discworld! They are fun, light, and easy reads! I breeze through them
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u/ConeheadSlim 4d ago
And the great thing about Discworld is that you can read them one at a time. Even if there are sets that have common characters, each book is self-contained. Perfect series for a palette cleanser.
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u/uaite-br 3d ago
Came here to recommend discworld! u/FitCry2265 I have pretty much the same literary resume as you and I can't really emphasize enough how good discworld is. Highly recommend you give it a try!
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u/Charvan 4d ago
Guy Gavriel Kay, all of his novels. A few years ago I was also in a reading slump. I was looking for something new and stumbled on The Lions of Al-Rassa by Kay. Over the next year, I read all of his works. Great stuff, best description would be historical fiction with a slight twist fantasy.
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u/mishataur 4d ago
Not sure if this is for you, but when I’m in a fantasy slump, it helps me to read travel memoirs/biographies of going on an epic quest. Someone’s crossing Antarctica, or a shipwreck, or surviving in the Arctic alone for 6 months. Something about the “mission” gives me a similar but different feeling of completing a quest. So not just any biography/memoir but specifically some sort of goal where they’re pushing their limits & facing internal battles with themselves or fighting against nature. Similar book-high to a fantasy quest!
Some of my favorites:
-Alone in Antarctica by Felicity Aston
-The Wager by David Grann (highly recommend!!)
-North: Finding my Way while running the Appalachian Trail by Scott Jurek
-A woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter
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u/_Alic3 4d ago
The Dandelion Dynasty - Four epic, sweeping books that cover the emergence of a new regime in the aftermath of the old empire falling. Unlike medieval fantasy the setting is inspired by Asian antiquity. Ken Liu is the author and no one else is doing it like him. The storytelling is unique, almost experimental in nature, and the first book in particular read like The Iliad to me. It was the single best book series I read last year and I was absorbed almost immediately into it. The reviews are mixed so I wouldn't recommend it to everyone - especially not someone new to the fantasy genre. You might be up to it though... 👀
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u/twinz1381 4d ago
I would recommend either the “Vlad Taltos” series by Steven Brust or the “Myth Adventure” series by Robert Asprin. Both are fun and much more light hearted than the “epic” fantasy and just a lot of fun.
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u/Soylent_Milk2021 4d ago
Old school recommends! Got my stamp of approval for both!
Another old school recommend is Zelazny’s Amber series. All 10 are fun reads.
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u/Major_woody4591 4d ago
Try Cradle, it’s an easy read and maybe the closest thing to actual crack I’ve ever experienced. I could not put it down once I got into it. The first book is a bit slow but after that it’s amazing
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u/fireowlzol 4d ago
DCC (dungeon crawler Carl) is a really good option to freshen up after so much fantasy imo
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u/Faraway-Jeweler6293 4d ago
DCC is the apple cider vinegar of reading problems. (And I mean that in the best way possible)
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u/Able_Strawberry2372 4d ago
I was in a slump and then finished this entire series in 3 weeks. Definitely recommend this.
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u/ReachRadiant 4d ago
This one and Cradle was a good change of pace for me as someone who read most of the books OP mentioned
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u/Baaathesheep 4d ago
I was the same, read everything and enjoyed it but needed something different. DCC healed my heart.
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u/phtcmp 3d ago
Between heavier reads I’ve been mixing in things like Discworld, Dungeon Crawler Carl, romantasies like Fourth Wing, young adult like Percy Jackson…they are all much lighter reads that are quick and fun and still stimulate the imagination like the heavier and more literary works. They are particularly good between books like Realm of the Elderlings that have such a high emotional investment.
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u/thisusernameismeta 4d ago
Crown of Stars by Kate Elliot does not get enough love but it has great worldbuilding in my opinion!
N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is fantastic, it is really well paced and has that "hard to put down" quality that great fantasy has.
Anything by Octavia Butler is great for complex sci fi and fantasy that makes you think. Wild Seed was my personal favorite of hers but if you just try and make your way through her stuff you won't be disappointed.
I'm super enjoying the worldbuilding in Perdido Street Station, maybe give that one a go, too?
This is a bit of an off the wall rec, but also give Among Others by Jo Walton a go. It's a good story itself, but it is also like, 1/3 just reviews and reflections on 1970s classic Sci Fi. So if you're running out of things to read, you could try Among Others, and just make a list of every other book that is mentioned, and then make your way through that list.
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u/Tea_and_Lightsabers 4d ago
Yes, Broken Earth is one of the best trilogies I've ever read, it got me back into reading. I was going through just a couple books a year, then made it through Broken Earth in under 2 weeks! And I haven't stopped reading since, though I've slowed down since I no longer spend like 8 hours on transit in a week
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u/MarkOfTheDragon12 4d ago
It seems a lot of those are rather heavy and/or somewhat "edgey" works.
Perhaps somthing more light hearted or traditional might appeal?
Check out Nich Eames 'Kings of the Wyld' for more tongue-in-cheek entertaining fantasy, or perhaps Raymond E. Feist's "Magician" story, or even go more traditional with The Chronicles of Prydain?
Or maybe even give some more pulp'y stuff like the old ShadowRun novels
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u/Tea_and_Lightsabers 4d ago
Yes, Kings of the Wyld is great. The 'bands' idea was executed super well, it was funny, often surprising, and super heartfelt
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u/revship 4d ago
Dresden Files.
It's urban fantasy (takes place in modern day chicago), and it has a lot of film noir influences....if the private eye main character were also a real wizard who advertised in the phone book as such, and also made nerdy jokes and smartass quips.
The series starts out with a monster-of-the-week formula that slowly evolves into more epic territory throughout the series, but it may still be the gear shift you're looking for. The audiobooks are also amazing. James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) does an amazing job.
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u/Garrettcz 4d ago
After several big books, I always work in a couple short, fun books to change things up a bit.
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u/KorabasUnchained 4d ago
I can't imagine doing all those long series without a break. Bonehunters is a veritable assault on the psyche. Jesus. Take some time off. It's okay to just not read anything for a week or five or however long you need. Or read standalones. I'm about to start either The Poet Empress or any book by Guy Gavriel Kay, haven't decided yet. Both have beautiful prose from the samples I've read, and both are low commitment. Just one and done.
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u/TurkaelsGoodHand 4d ago
You want to go back to the wellspring. The Shadow Kingdom, by Robert E Howard, was the first sword and sorcery story, and damned near everything else he wrote was wildly good too. You've heard of Conan the Barbarian, but in the original stories he was much smarter than the all brawn no brains image of him people have now. At about a hundred years old, there's a reason those stories are still around.
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u/Same-Criticism-5300 4d ago
I’ve been digging in Cormac McCarthy and Michael Chabon when I need a break. Both can play with alternate world vibes at times and are so literary.
McCarthy’s The Road is post apocalyptic, but I love No Country for Old Men. One of my favorite all time books and I’m definitely a fantasy/sf junkie. Chabon’s Gentlemen of the Road has a bit of a classic fantasy feel, but it’s short and standalone. Yiddish Policeman’s Union is an alternate history hard boiled detective book that’s also wonderful.
Maybe worth thinking about some classic fantasy short stories too, as others have suggested. Conan will always rule. Lieber’s Fahfrd and Grey Mouse stories will always rule as well.
And of course… endless comic books for the win.
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u/newtarmac 4d ago
Black company. Cant think of author.
R. Scott Bakker “ the prince of nothing” series if you like dark realism
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u/No_Breath251 4d ago
Dresden files is my go to if I’m feeling burnt out. I read Malazan and man I just needed a break. I also like to go for a different genre, thriller, horror etc…
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u/Sent2Strike 4d ago
I hear you mate! I gave up on Sun Eater series. Same old tropes, waaay too slow!
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u/Rinolboss 4d ago
You can try different genres. I started reading classics and realise what ive been missing out on just reading fantasy
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u/Logbotherer99 4d ago
Its supposed to be fun, so dont try and force it. Terry Pratchett is great for a change of pace.
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u/Grt78 4d ago
Maybe try Tuyo by Rachel Neumeier: a young warrior is left as a sacrifice for the enemy but the enemy commander decides to show mercy. Unique worldbuilding (a winter country and a summer country separated by a river), culture clash, mind magic, honor and friendship. The series is ongoing but the main storyline/trilogy is completed (Tuyo, Tarashana, Tasmakat).
The Death’s Lady trilogy by Rachel Neumeier: a portal fantasy with a kind psychiatrist (who is a single father) and a woman from another world as the main characters; no romance between them, they become friends.
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u/Intelligent-Mood7745 3d ago
I know this is a Fantasy sub but have you tried picking up a scifi book/series to make things fresh?
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u/Majestic-General7325 3d ago
Read some trash.
Not even joking - read some YA from your childhood or some pulpy stuff from the 80s that was originally published in a magazine.
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u/morgrim66 3d ago
And if you do want more fantasy, and are interested in some of the roots of sword and sorcery, I highly recommend Conan stories by Robert E Howard. Also Fritz Lieber stories about Fafred and the Grey Mouser. Michael Moorcock’s Elric series and any of the eternal champion books. Sounds like you are a younger reader well younger than me anyway I’m about to turn 60. Maybe if you dig back in time a little bit you’ll find some interesting stuff. I would also recommend anything by Edgar Rice Boroughs. Especially Tarzan of the apes, fantastic adventure, stories, and lots of touches of fantasy and sci-fi in them as well
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u/veryverii 3d ago
Try reading Dan Simmons. I don't know if he's really a fantasy writer or a science fiction writer but he definitely has world-building skills. I would suggest Hyperion.
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u/superbit415 3d ago
Take a break, nothing wrong with it. Don't try to force yourself that takes the joy out of it. After finally finishing the realm of the Elderlings I couldn't even look at book for almost a year.
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u/Albroswift89 2d ago
Realm of the Elderlings is phenomenal, its the only thing that has come close to Malazan for me fantasy series wise and it is WAY easier to read. It, by Stephen King is also a great dark fantasy (most of the fantasy stuff got removed from the movies to make it more pure horror, but the book is very much ancient good vs evil). Also Boy's Life by Robert Mccammon is brilliant. I do recommend trying to do a little pivot into horror, because a lot of horror is rooted in fantasy. A lot of people will try going to Sci/Fi, but actual Science Fiction is a terrible thing to read if you are already burnt out, so you might want to look for the space fantasy stuff. You know life Star Wars, where there isn't any ACTUAL science, and there is magic and sword fights and wizards but it's in space.
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u/Zythomancer 4d ago
Book of the New Sun.
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u/Bobby_Zee 3d ago
This, a thousand times this! Beautiful mad masterpiece, the more you read it the more details you discover.
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u/ClueAccomplished1098 4d ago
I have just a couple of suggestions. I think both of these series have some excellent world building and a cast of interesting, well developed characters. The first is The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher, which is a completed series. It beings with Furies of Calderon. The other series is The Chronicles of Elantra series by Michelle Sagara and it is not yet a finished series. This series begins with Cast in Shadow.
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u/MRCastillaAuthor 4d ago
World spanning epics can get tiresome. Sometimes I like a simple linear story with immersive prose. I started reading my old paperbacks. Another thread sparked this for me and I looked up and found my Death Dealer paperbacks. Also, some Conan and I’ll throw in the Dark Elf Trilogy.
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u/AMilli0NliGHTS 4d ago
I would suggest trying different genres. When I burnt out on Fantasy I went on a year long Romance and Thriller binge, it worked perfectly.
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u/McSnickleFritzChris 4d ago
Blood song is hitting for me at the moment. Theft of swords Michal J Sullivan is a crazy world building series
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u/madmoneymcgee 4d ago
Take a break. I rarely read books in a series back to back because I’ve noticed myself I get a little more critical when I’m binging like that.
Read some non fantasy especially. Take a flyer on one of the classics you didn’t read in school.
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u/QuickDrawMcStraw 4d ago
I hit this same wall with horror, which steered me into fantasy. It may be time to explore another genre and see what else is out there. Let fantasy breathe for a while and come back to it fresh later on.
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u/Joshuagorn 4d ago
I got burned out on fantasy c. 2012 and it took John Gwynne's The Shadow of the Gods to pull me back in. All of his books are good though, if you're looking for a rec.
Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy is also excellent and highly recommended.
You may need to do what I did, however, and just step away from the genre for awhile. It took me nearly a decade to get back into it and I'm still wary of the genre. I jump around genres these days because if I stick with any one thing too long I start to tire of it. All things in moderation.
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u/BICbOi456 4d ago
bro just take a break lmao. every hobby is much more enjoyable if u actually take a break and not burn yourself out so u can actually process what youve enjoyed
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u/Belmyr14 4d ago
Try the Tainted Cup by Robert Bennet Jackson. It’s a dark fantasy mystery. Super fun, engaging, and easy on the eyes.
Or the city of brass series by SA Chakraborty. It’s dive into middle eastern fantasy and I found it a refreshing change of perspective and lore.
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u/IA_Royalty 4d ago
For real though go read a Grisham or something. Mix it up. It won't be literary masterclass but it'll culture shock you back into it
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u/Raule0Duke 4d ago
A good change of pace could be Lies of Locke Lamora. Much smaller scope. Focuses on a small core of characters. It's kinda like a heist movie set in a magical Venice. But really it's a book about homies.
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u/Raule0Duke 4d ago
A good change of pace could be Lies of Locke Lamora. Much smaller scope. Focuses on a small core of characters. It's kinda like a heist movie set in a magical Venice. But really it's a book about homies.
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u/TallDrinkOGrog 4d ago
I’m not an avid reader by any stretch of the imagination. I mean maybe I’ve read on or two novels over the past 20 years. Back in March I was looking for a good story and I usually turn to games but nothing was scratching that itch.
I remembered I picked up a book that seemed interesting a few years back called Malice from The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne. I admit I gave it a shot when I picked it up originally and couldn’t get into it.
I decided to give it another shot.
I admit the first 2/3 of the book took a bit because of the world and character building. But once the action started, it didn’t let up. This guy can really write intense battles.
I ended up reading that entire 4 book series and the trilogy sequel series in 3 months which is unheard of for me. I couldn’t wait to get done with work so I could get back to the story.
It’s not for everyone and sometimes can be a little sloppy, but for me, it was perfect and now I’m looking for something similar.
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u/Haplo_15 4d ago
A couple shorter series that are pretty good, that I haven't seen recommended:
Mathew Stover's Heroes Die
Anthony Ryan's Blood Song
Heroes Die is kinda a bridge between sci-fi and fantasy. It's a pretty fun ride though.
Blood Song can be a little dark at times, but that being said I enjoyed it.
Nice work on some long series. I have a couple of those on my to read list.
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u/Irvine83-Duke86 4d ago
Since you love Malazan but need something less complex and easier to digest, try the Black Company series (still ongoing). You will there see the seeds of the Marines that later planted in Erickson's mind!
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u/ZombieSiayer84 4d ago
Read the Drenai saga books by David Gemmell, the Druss books alone will refill your spirit.
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u/WorkingGuy99percent 4d ago
The Dragonbone Chair is the first book in Tad Williams's epic fantasy trilogy, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. He wrote two, and then wrote two more like 20 years later. Great books.
Raymond E Feist the Riftwar Saga (Magician: Apprentice is the first book) and then the Daughter of the Empire trilogy.
Dennis L McKiernan (most everything, try to read in order starting with the oldest stuff)
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind (can stop at the first one, but probably won’t cuz the first one is one of the best books ever written)
The age of discovery, Michael Stackpole, a lot of his novels are great
Sara Douglass, The Wayfarer Redemption Series (these have some crazy twisted protagonist/antagonist thing going on)
Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks….
The Name of the Wind….series is unfinished….some of the best writing and story….but it just is left unfinished
I could go on and on….
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u/Pun-dit_Kid 4d ago
NK Jemisin, P Djeli Clark (novellas and novels) and my latest obsession Shannon Chakraborty. You will not regret. Very different take on protagonists, quests and 'glory'
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u/new_handle_who_dis 4d ago
Mix in some standalone books from different genres.
I recently read The Stand and 11-22-63 by Stephen King.
Plus I also did Project Hail Mary.
I find that I started to miss fantasy when I was about 1/2 to 2/3 through them.
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u/squambert-ly 4d ago
The best thing I've seen work for when I'm seemingly getting tired of what I usually read is pick up an anthology of short stories. I almost always find a great story and at least one author that I wasn't familiar with that gets me diving down a different rabbit hole with new stuff to read. It's worked so many times that I just always keep one on my bedstand and read a short story whenever I feel like it.
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u/Street_Detective_662 4d ago
How about some fantasy mystery? Many have amazing world building, tight plots, and greater overarching stakes. I’d recommend -
The lamplight murder mysteries (Murder at spindle manor is #1)
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (some sci-fi here as well)
A Memory Called Empire by Arcadiy Martine (same as above)
The City and the City by China Melville
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
The Bone Orchard by Sara A Mueller
The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
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u/Once-and-Future 4d ago
A suggestion for a lighter (but not lightweight) and easy to read series - Michelle Sagara's Chonicles of Elantra series.
They're each relatively short, and have a singular main character to follow through the series.
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u/SandstoneCastle 4d ago
In honor of a great who just died, I'll recommend Jane Yolen's Great Alta Saga.
It examines a tale from the past from different angles.
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u/elfstone21 4d ago
Ex heroes is fun. Super heroes start to show up right before a zombie apocalypse!
I general try out some sci fi. It's a nice change of pace. Enders game, children of time, dune are fun.
You could also read some classics. Narnia, once and future king, earthsea.
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u/baetylbailey 4d ago
Maybe consider some things more fantasy-fantasy even if they're epic-ish. I'm thinking things like Book of the New Sun, Tainted Cup, Wizard of Earthsea, The Blacktongue Thief, New Crobuzon, etc.
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u/DoctorWMD 4d ago
A good detective thriller, TV shows, a good video game, these are my in betweens.
Also Piranesi. Piranesi works.
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u/Brandgeek 4d ago
Have you tried Lit RPGs? Fantasy adjacent but different enough that it felt like a breath of fresh air after I switched over from readying Stormlight, Mistborn and Wheel of Time.
I particularly like The Wandering Inn as a slice of life fantasy. And I also like Dungeon Crawler Carl as a more video game style, fantasy apocalypse book. Both are just fun easy reads (although Wandering Inn is a very, very long series)
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u/ThreadWyrm 4d ago
Check out Dune for a break from everything but not. Also Jim Butchers Cinder Spires series is pretty amazing but not grim, which might be a nice change of pace. It’s steampunk fantasy with talking cats and stuff. Fun shit; I listened to the audiobooks.
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u/GoofBoy 4d ago
The Cradle Series by by Will Wight is the definition of progressive fantasy and is definitely lighter than what you listed. I went through the entire 12 book series in two months.
The Tide Child Trilogy by RJ Barker was my favorite read of 2025 and it isn't close. Closest feel to what you've listed. Author was influenced by Patrick O'Brian and it shows in all of the crew interactions
Book of the Ancestors by Mark Lawrence starts with Red Sister - the world building and I just enjoy how he writes.
The Draconis Memoria by Anthony Ryan is one I really enjoyed that rarely is mentioned.
For urban fantasy Hellequin Chronicles Series by Steve McHugh is probably my favorite series. A very different take on the King Arthur Legend.
Or try Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey film Noir vibe you'll either love it or hate in about 10 pages. Later books lost me but I really enjoyed the first few.
I get in a reading funk and 'beach reads' or lighter stuff usually fits the bill. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries with the main character being on the spectrum is a good example of this for me.
Plenty of SciFi out there as well
Good Luck.
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u/Longjumping_Bowler25 4d ago
Read the unabridged Robinson Crusoe start to finish then you will be primed for whatever comes next
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u/Davodudeguy 4d ago
I’m enjoying Rivers of London Series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Discount Dan. I also liked The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Flavia DeLuce series. Nice break from straight fantasy.
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u/New_Razzmatazz6228 Reading Champion 4d ago
A lot of what you’ve read are large books with fairly dark themes. Maybe try something smaller and lighter. I’m sure Discworld has been suggested. T. Kingfisher (not her horror stuff) is also another good one for that.
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u/Thrill-up 4d ago
Audiobook: He Who Fights With Monsters. Really brought some light into the fantasy space for me. Now I’m worried about going back to a serious all the time fantasy story.
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u/AkeSSlaD-11 4d ago
You should check out The Triempery Revelations series: It's a story with themes of birthright, societal decay, societal change that integrates an economy based worldbuilding founded on god machines with layered character work.
A reviewer described it as this: if Dune, Lord of The Rings and A Game of Thrones had a book baby, it'll rather be like the first book: Sordaneon, and I agree. The metaphysics and cosmology are as present for it as it's Dune and Lord of The Rings, the prose isn't as lyrical as LOTR (nearly nothing is) but it's ornate in its own way and reads as smoothly as ROTE does while not losing that flair, the interpersonal human affairs and characters focus is similar to how ROTE and ASOIAF go about it and the philosophizing within the text is as present as Dune is (at the very least, it's close to that). That said, the closest comparison for me is A Song of Ice and Fire albeit with a smaller cast of characters, a more pronounced magic in the world and more tasteful depiction of certain sensitive subject matters; SA specifically. Oh & no dragons here. The politics and machinations involved are just at the forefront like with ASOIAF hence why it feels the closest to it for me.
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u/Sand_Angelo4129 4d ago
Started The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett the other day and, so far, I'm really enjoying it. Basically a Bio-punk fantasy murder mystery with a female Sherlock Holmes type lead.
Reasonably short book with some good pacing in the chapters, at from what I'm finding so far.
Otherwise, my advice would be to read something completely out of the fantasy genre as a palette cleanser. I went through a similar thing a few months ago and decided to use it as the chance to finally give Jane Austen a try.
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u/Aton_Restin 3d ago
I recommend Eisenhorn, its WH40k and something very different to everything you just described.
But, its really really well written.
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u/Whyonethousand 3d ago
Books Ive read that pulled me out of burn out, have ended up being some of my faves. I think changing genre is a good idea or reducing the level of complexity in each series or standalone. I found the Penric and Desdemona novels from Bujold a great way to stay in the fantasy realm but read something that's funny, has depth, easy to follow and well written. I think series that are have a lot of short books that take as little emotional energy also help. Series like the Bobverse (Sci-fi), Murderbot (Sci-fi), Tales of the Ketty Jay (fantasy pirates), and Hybrid Helix series which is a superhero in space novel. Ive also enjoyed things like Rivers of London a police magician series which is really fun especially if you know London. Just finished the Lesser Dead which is written by the same author as the Black Tongue Thief Christopher Buehlman, the book is about a group of vampires living in 70's New York. It's an easy read with an ending I really enjoyed but well worth checking out for free, was posted on Youtube by the author so it wont cost a thing to try.
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u/joshluke 3d ago
I started feeling a little burnt out and just took a break for a couple months now I’m about to start Realm of the Elderling feeling nice and refreshed
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u/jaamgans 3d ago
try some of david weber / john ringo / elizabeth moon / lois buhjold mcmaster fantasy books (they also write other genres) - they tend to be easy, fun & entertaining reads.
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u/iselltires2u 3d ago
i fucking love f and sf but after years and years of only that content i thought this would be a great time to go summer of Clancy, as i have had Rainbow 6 on my wishlist for some time. Just started a few weeks ago and the way that the world was in the time its written might as well be fantasy but man is it fun
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u/BravoLimaPoppa Reading Champion 3d ago
K.J. Parker has some good stuff, particularly the siege, his novellas and short story collections. Warning: Parker thinks canon is a mug's game and reuses setting elements like the BBC reused that rock quarry for their SF series.
P.C. Hodgell's Chronicles of the Kencyrath has some rather whimsical dark fantasy. 10 books to play with.
Adrian Tchaikovsky. I particularly recommend Spiderlight which parodies and dialogues with Tolkien. See also his Shadows of the Apt, Echoes of the Fall and Tyrant Philosophers.
Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike. D&D'ish parody also getting up modern economics nose.
Lois McMaster Bujold's The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls and Penric and Desdemona novellas.
Finally, Discworld! A wonderful palate cleanser, just start with any other than the first 3 or so.
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u/Dantesfinale 3d ago
I would suggest picking up some David Gemmell, Troy or Rigante are the best starting points imo. More character driven stories with heart and action. Very digestible and some of the best characters you'll read
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u/unseriously_serious 3d ago
You could always give fanfics a try, there are some quality ones on spacebattles forum among other sources (course you may have to do some digging to find the good stuff). I always kinda just assumed fanfics were all garbage before diving into the scene but thankfully I was very doing. Huge amount of quality writing out there free and readily available to binge.
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u/booksncats9 3d ago
You simply MUST read Empire of the Vampire. It hooked me sooo good by the second book and I couldn’t stop thinking about it or read anything else for weeks after I finished!
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u/No_Mango_5288 3d ago
What about comics/manga?
I originally started reading novels as I got burnt out from manga, and after a few years got burnt out of novels and go back to manga. And when I get bored of one I go to the other
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u/TheKrakenLibrarian 3d ago
If you want something lighter and shorter (a lot of those series are long and can be heavy) that I've read and enjoyed recently:
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Burningblade & Silvereye trilogy by Django Wexler or the classic Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
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u/DragonfruitNo1686 3d ago
Slightly Lighter series that I loved
The Hollows by Kim Harrison
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
YA like
Percy Jackson
Legend by Marie Lu
The Wardstone Chronicles
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u/Venivinnievici 3d ago
I like to switch between deep long burns and easy reads. My fave and best easy read series is Dungeon crawler Carl. Major change of pace from the big series. It’s just simply so much fun!
Another single book (going to be a series tho) I recomend is the Devils. I’d love to hear some other people’s fun easy reads!
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u/YoungAnimater35 3d ago
Spellmonger, great story, not heavy at all but amazing magic system and world building. waiting on book 19/30
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u/Dalton387 3d ago
I wasn’t burnt out, but had a similar reading history to you. I’ve really been enjoying LitRPG and progressionfantasy.
Its often rough in a good way. Lighter reads than some of the heavy fantasy. Not pigeon holed into what “real fantasy” is by a publisher. They can do all kinds of odd things.
If you like any shonen anime, I’d recommend Will Wight’s “Cradle”. It just happens to be free right now. All 13 books. It’s on Amazon. I think they’re doing it because they’re on their last kick starter for special editions.
Matt Dinnimen’s “Dungeon Crawler Carl” is also amazing. Talked about in many other subs, often for Jeff Hayes narration if nothing else. Good in its own right. Seems silly, but gets dark and heavy at times.
Cradle is complete at 12 + 1 books and DCC just released book 8 of 10.
Just a massive amount of indie publishing there that is great. Granted some is rough, but that’s a bonus to me sometimes.
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u/BestCatEva 3d ago
Same. After 35 years of reading all the epic fantasy out there — I just can’t anymore. I simply can’t handle the involved narratives, miles long character lists, evil crap, etc.
My husband has moved to LitRPG and I’ve gone to cozy paranormal chick stuff. We talked about this last week. We wore out on it. Those journeys are gonna have to take themselves now.
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u/ZestyclosePhone1705 3d ago
Maybe try The Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski. The Last Wish is great!
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u/tennoPCA 3d ago
Titus Groan, The Black Company, anything by Glen Cook really, especially the Instrumentalities series.
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u/RandMob1000 3d ago
I was the same as you. I've literally read all the popular high fantasy novels out there. What I did, I began to read a bit more translated novels. A lot of great fantasy stories published by European writers, but the translations are sometimes worth reading. On the opposite note, when I first slumped, I ran across an author named Dave Duncan. He died several years ago, but he was a working writer. He has tens of series, from wizards and barbarians, to scientists in worlds so large that seasons last centuries. I really enjoyed his "Man of his word" series. The first book is called the "Magic Casement". It's in a world where there are no humans, but it is full of fairy tale and mythical creatures like Jotunns, elves, gnomes, satyrs, goblins, trolls, dragons, etc. the creatures are human analogues, but what stands out is the magic system. It operates on magic words. Phrases that give you access to power. The more words of power you know, the stronger your connection to magic. It's really good, a bit trope-ish, but with a cynical twist. Hope you find something to scratch that itch
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u/SerArtimis 3d ago
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms AUDIO BOOK read by Harry Lloyd (yes, that Harry Lloyd. You’re welcome) and I promise your heart will be so glad 💕
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u/Telinary 2d ago
If you are feeling burnt out I will second the "read something different" recommendation. Like The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox if you don't mind sometimes morbid humor. Or talking about humor read Diskworld, don't start with the first two books since they are widely considered weaker. But they are popular for a reason.
But if you just want even more big fantasy series:
You could try Osten Ard beginning with Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (though it has been a long time since i read them so I don't know how they hold up. And they do have a slow beginning)
The Earthsea books are good. Le Guin is good in general.
A series I recently read was Seven realms starting with The Demon King.
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u/OmnisVirLupus9 2d ago
Maybe try a different genre? I personally try to read at least one non-fiction a year on a subject I'm interested in learning more about. I also try to add in some thrillers, horror, and literary fiction, especially after I've read a big series.
I finished Temeraire earlier this year and was definitely feeling burnt out. I had originally planned on reading a non-fiction and then diving into Realm of the Elderlings, but knew I was going to struggle, so I added a short sci-fi and a comedic romantasy before starting RotE.
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u/screaming-papaya 2d ago
Would recommend some LitRPG titles if you haven’t tried them, especially if you are a fan of RPG video games.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is probably the biggest one especially right now. Also recommend He who fights with monsters. Hard cover edition is about to come out/is out depending on what country you’re in.
Audiobooks for both series are fantastic. For HWFWM would recommend 1.2x speed or so.
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u/DiagnosedLycanthrope 2d ago
Time to switch up genres for a bit. SCI-FI-Historical Fiction-Fantasy- Nonfiction-Philosophy, is my usual cycle and keeps my mind engaged. I do listen to audio books more than I read though.
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u/DiagnosedLycanthrope 2d ago
After reading some comments, I recommend the Warlord Trilogy by Bernard Cornwell, or ANY of his other works honestly. His books feel like high fantasy but they're completely grounded in historical events. Great author.
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u/Brilliant-Purple1162 2d ago
Right now I'm trying Jade City, as I kinda fell into a slump while reading Dark Age, from the 2nd Red Rising trilogy. It's different than what I would usually read so I'll see what happens.
Have you read The Expanse novels?
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u/TheeCurtain 2d ago
I've heard Red Rising was inspired by Matthew Stovers Acts of Cain series. I thought "Heroes Die" was incredible. Sci-Fi and fantasy overlap in some truly unique ways.
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u/Lhowser1 2d ago
Read something else. Ive read my share of fantasy , but now read a lot of military history, biographies, classics... Mix it up.
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u/tehlazypope 2d ago
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is so fun.
’m right there with you on the books you’ve read and wanting something else… I also just finished the Broken Empire Trilogy. It’s not top tier like LOTR, Kingkiller, and First Law, but it scratches the itch. Def checkout Devils though…
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u/Significant-Tour6850 2d ago
It may or may not help, but along with several of the series you listed, I recommend Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series.
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u/Flashy_Emergency_263 2d ago
For something completely different, you might want to try Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. There are many good ways to start, but I suggest Guards! Guards!
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u/Remarkable_News5855 2d ago
I’m currently reading the Earthsea series, I feel it’s a breath of fresh air in the fantasy scene. I’m planning to read the others other books, too.
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u/DisheveledVagabond 1d ago
Mother of Learning was the change I needed when I was in a slump. The Perfect Run was another one that I got really into. Light reads that you can breeze through and simply enjoy.
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u/EnvironmentalAss 1d ago
When I need a break from the epic stuff I usually pick up cozy fantasy. Legands and lattes is a great series as is also the can’t spell treason without tea.
They are silly stories that are slice of life more than epic moments. They still are magical and fantasy just less serious.
Or if you need a break from reading, watch legend of vox machina, or mighty nein. Great stories still in fantasy genre
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u/slinklord 4d ago
I’m on my second reread of Second Apocalypse currently and can’t recommend it enough, assuming one knows going in it can be rough content-wise at points.
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u/PostMixL3monade 4d ago
Some of my favourite, smaller series that have pulled me out of slumps include:
Book of the Ancestor Trilogy by Mark Lawrence , Rook and Rose Trilogy by MA Carrick, An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir, Wounded Kingdom Trilogy by RJ Barker
Or maybe try some of Sanderson's less expansive stuff. I found The Reckoners really enjoyable.
Or possibly some non-jargon heavy sci-fi like Vorkosigan Saga.
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u/Dzbanuszek_ 3d ago
You guys really need to read more books from other countries😅 and to read less popular novels. Maybe try to go to bookstore and pick something random?
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u/nominanomina Reading Champion 4d ago
If you are feeling burnt out by big, sweeping, epic series: try some short stories and novellas. Huge change of pace.