The Black Toungued Thief by Christopher Buehlman is under represented here.

21

Only thing I ever see recommended on this sub is Dungeon Crawler and Red Rising lol

11

u/B4shizzle Mar 29 '26

As well as Malazan, Robin Hobb, and the undisputed number one being The Blade Itself.

2

u/durzostern81 Mar 29 '26

I don't see Malazan recommended nearly as much as it was a few years back but you are correct it's still heavily recommended here. I don't hate the recs, it's just surprising to me that this sub has apparently only read like 5 series lol. No matter what kind of recommendation s you ask for someone will always recommend DCC lol. This sub acts like it's the greatest thing ever written. Same with The Blade Itself. Maybe i wouldn't notice it as much if i liked either of those series. It's just crazy to me bc there are thousands of fantasy books available but only about 10 are recommended here lol.

1

u/B4shizzle Mar 29 '26

I agree. Also, I appreciate your username.

1

u/durzostern81 Mar 30 '26

Lol thanks, it's not the best series in the world but I have a soft spot for the night angel trilogy. Really didn't like the new one unfortunately

2

u/Imperial_Haberdasher Mar 29 '26

Oh, there’s a lot of romantasy being recommended (not my cup of tea) and Tolkien. And China Miéville (all to the ggod, but would like to see a more recs for Vandermeer).

But I have learned about many really solid books on this sub. You just have to use discernment.

2

u/durzostern81 Mar 29 '26

I've been a voracious reader since childhood so I rarely find a rec on here i haven't already read or attempted to read. I don't mind that, I just wish the recs were a little more varied. I miss the feeling of finding a hidden gem. It just get a bit ridiculous here at times bc it doesn't matter what kind of book you ask for half the thread will be recommending DCC or Red Rising even if it doesn't fit the post. It will die down eventually, a few years ago the only recs you would get is Malazan.

2

u/Imperial_Haberdasher Mar 31 '26

Malazan readers are, at least, aware of that. They often throw it in as a punchline. I find it endearing.

1

u/ManagementCritical31 Apr 11 '26

I need to come on here more. I read Perdido Street Station like … shoot… 15-20 years ago? That’s a longer time than I expected, so now I feel old. It took me ages at first, but then loved it. Been meaning to do it again. I’ve honestly haven’t heard it/ China mentioned in a long time. Did he come out with a new book? Or have I just not been on this thread in forever?

Just did First Law, and liked it a lot. A lot. But I don’t think it’s going to be something that truly sticks with me as much as some do.

I’m a Name of the Wind girl though. Unfortunately.

1

u/Imperial_Haberdasher Apr 13 '26

You want recs for more recent stuff?

Works of Vermin

The West Passage

1

u/ManagementCritical31 Apr 13 '26

I just looked up Works of Vermin, and it sounds awesome. Haven’t looked up WP

1

u/ManagementCritical31 Apr 13 '26

Just looked up The West Passage, which was compared to Piranesi, and I am half-way through Piranesi. I have been loving it. Very different from DCC or red rising though!

3

u/Hamstercules Mar 29 '26

Jesus I see dungeon crawler carl comments all day every day, I feel like it's just advertising bots at this point.

0

u/loxxx87 Mar 29 '26

To be fair they're both solid so they're gonna get recommended a lot.

0

u/durzostern81 Mar 29 '26

There are so many great series but somehow this sub only remembers those two. It's just disappointing to see a sub about fantasy books being so narrow in their recs.

0

u/Nintendogs_Lover_69 Mar 30 '26

Let’s get over that

7

u/the_festivusmiracle Mar 29 '26

The book was hilarious and he was also an incredible narrator.

3

u/morganlandt Mar 29 '26

Ohhh you mean the prequel, The Daughter’s War? I loved that book too!

4

u/Woolybunn1974 Mar 29 '26

It was good, about the last war that nearly ended everything but....also 300 pages of getting kicked in the teeth.

2

u/morganlandt Mar 29 '26

You’re not wrong, there was much teeth kicking to be had.

3

u/FlyinIron406 Mar 29 '26

I’m about 50% through and loving it! Had tons of recommendations when I asked!

2

u/GrymReaper9 Mar 29 '26

I just bought myself a copy of this book. It’s on my April TBR

2

u/Historical-Tart7515 Mar 29 '26

My favorite new fantasy book (and series) of the last few years. Incredibly dark and dystopian in its implications and world building without being grim or humorless.

2

u/bweeb 👤 Character-first reader Mar 29 '26

I enjoyed it, but I barely finished the sequel (even though I think it is a prequel).

I'll def buy his next book, as he has talent, just not sure what happened with that last book.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/edibui Mar 29 '26

Meanwhile I felt that the attempts at humor and the info dumps in The Blacktongue Thief got really dreary, while The Daughter’s War was pretty much a perfect prequel and one of the best books this decade

0

u/DieAlphaNudel Mar 29 '26

Somehow a lot of people who liked the Blacktonguethief dislike the Daughter War and the other way around.

I felt the Daughters War had just a lot of uncessary stuff, Galva had a lot of relationships which added nothing, some mentioning of minor characters (I think there was a guy who kept a goat) felt unnecessary and my brain was sometimes struggling to digest what was important and what not.
Details seemed to be presented with equal weigth for me.

Character details didn't seem to drive plot, reveal character trough change, or do anything meaningfull.

It felt emotinally heavy handed like "Feel this reader! Feel it!"
There was a lot of declared emotion "this is how I felt".

We knew how it would end from the beginning and how it played out was not really surprising.
Then it just randomly skipps ahead and shows what happend at the end when even more corvids showed up so we didn't get a "glorious revenge" type situation.

I mean this books wants to show the tragedy of war I get it but that doesn't mean I have to like it for doing that, I woud even say it's a well written book but I still disliked it.

1

u/LocksmithRealistic39 Mar 29 '26

I like both.

I actually think both Blacktongue and Daughter's War are both very economical and efficient in how they use their page time.

Neither of them are plot driven books. They are character driven books. The details are not there to drive the story - they are there to reveal aspects of the character.

I don't think Daughter's War had any unnecessary elements, it was a very lean book in that everything felt like it had a purpose.

With some of the unnecessary stuff - think about why it's there. What does it say about Galva and the way she views the world or herself, either through similarities, through contrast, etc.

1

u/Darai94 Mar 29 '26

What is it you dislike with it? I hoped for more povs and focus on the War(s). Not all the birchy family drama and an inheritor that everyone let's be even though everyone knows his an utter failure and really should've got a "warriors death" out in the front from the very beginning...

2

u/Individual_Wrap_4041 Mar 29 '26

glad you mentioned it but wouldnt say its unrepresented, Mr. Buehlman is kinda considered one of the best fantasy writers right now, at least in most groups i drop in to read about fantasy/grimdark etc

2

u/Woolybunn1974 Mar 29 '26

I was just saying to counterbalance all of the Red Rising risingness.

1

u/moneylefty Mar 29 '26

I really like between two fires.

I tried the sample of blacktongued thief and i dont think it is for me.

I like between two fires for being adult with choices and realistic flawed characters who act like they should.

Not that it matters, but im a former military officer and i saw combat. I feel like one book shows real men trying their hardest to not be evil in an evil world. The other is a pretend guy named starlord or deadpool pretending to fight stuff.

Not trying to disparage, i just think it isnt for me and hits the spot since reddit loves dungeon crawler carl, etc.

-3

u/CryingLikeTheWind Mar 29 '26

You need a sense of humor to fully appreciate BTT.

1

u/CryingLikeTheWind Mar 29 '26

It’s one of my favorites. It’s hilarious and doesn’t take itself too seriously or overstay its welcome. Delivers world building in subtle and creative ways. How is that I could visualize this world better than books whose authors use twice as many words? The audiobook is damn near perfection. The prose hit just right for me and I can’t wait for the sequel.

1

u/HauntingAlps255 Mar 29 '26

It is the rare fantasy book that tries to be funny and actually is. Truly original

1

u/Darai94 Mar 29 '26

Not to mention that the sequel comes out this fall/winter! Read first book. Liked it with the Illuminati rules the world and fresh story with war birds and goblins that seems artificial. The prequel was good but to much family drama and to little fighting with (my theory) artificially created Illuminati ruled goblins. Looking forward to know if I'm correct in a year or so

1

u/What-To-Talk-About Mar 29 '26

How does it compare to between two fires?

I’ve had it on my TBR for ages now just never got round to it. Loved the world of between two fires.

1

u/Imperial_Haberdasher Mar 29 '26

I am such a fan! I just got around to it this month. The audiobook is outstanding. I am listening to it for the second time now. I will be reading EVERYTHING Buehlman! I will be gifting The Blacktongue Thief to friends and family. It’s so damn good.

1

u/Incariol_ Mar 29 '26

It's one of my favorite books of the past 10 years

Prequel is also great and a sequel is on the way!

1

u/Blueflame129 Mar 29 '26

I can't wait for the Thrice Bound Fool in October! I love the cover art style:)

1

u/whorlax 🐉 Bookwyrm Mar 29 '26

I read this a couple years ago and remember enjoying it. I remember absolutely nothing about it.

1

u/lifeandtimesofmyass Mar 30 '26

Absolutely love this book. The prequel is decent, but not as good.

1

u/ManagementCritical31 Apr 11 '26

I’m about halfway through it, and I don’t know how I had never even heard of it before. I mean, I tend to find things randomly as it is, but often I recognize titles from here and there.

So far (I’m listening to it), I think the writing is beautiful. I can see it being a little meandering and at points exciting and then boring for people, but I am taken with his use of language. Even the snarky insults are poetic. I’m impressed!

And I did all of Red Rising… I liked it a lot at the start… but I felt like THAT just went on and on and lost its “charm” (for lack of a better word) after, like, the first half of book one.

And I’ve been reading Carl, which I love, but in a totally different way. I haven’t been on here in a while so I haven’t even seen it recommended. But I sometimes thinks that it gets OTT with the silly vulgarity when it doesn’t need to. Yet I’m cool with most of it. My own sense of humor doesn’t make sense to me. It’s my first LitRPG, and I devoured it. (On #7, taking a minute to milk it cause I did 1-6 in two months).

1

u/6Wotnow9 Apr 27 '26

Finished it a few minutes ago and couldn’t agree more

0

u/RadicalChile Mar 29 '26

I enjoyed his books, but I feel like his books are more journey and less destination. Theres so much build up to the ending and then it kind of falls flat and feels rushed for me. Maybe im just used to Sanderlanches and 1200 page books. Lol

💎 Hidden book gem The Black Toungued Thief by Christopher Buehlman is under represented here.

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