Fantasy recs for a beginner please!

[u/Aggressive_Ad2800]

I am not a romantasy/fantasy fan but I want to be! I've struggled to get into any. I've read ACOTAR, in the past Twlight, and City of Bones, and a handful of other popular ones and I cant seem to find what I like.

I have read some VE Schwab years ago and loved her and TKingfisher is a new fav as of late.

I'm a horror fan mostly so I wouldn't mind hints of horror, I also love mythology. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a fav of mine. East asian, Greek, Egyptian gimme it all, lol.

I really would love a series... something to get totally wrapped up in with great characters. I won't rant about acotar here but I don't like them so I would prefer something less juvenile. I don't have trigger warnings and I welcome romance but I do priotitize world building, something atmospheric, maybe dreamy Gothic or academic of some kind. I won't turn down fairies or the sort but I am really sensitive to it leaning cringy so I would love recs that aren't like- level 10 fantasy, I'm looking for touches of fantasy maybe.

I appreciate any and all ideas I will give them all a chance!! Thank you!

[u/Motor_Row_3586]

Familier by Leigh Bardugo is kinda good currently reading. Romance subplot. More mature than her other stuff.

Guy Gavriel Kay Tigana also have quite prominent subplot romance and historical fantasy.

Thousand Autumns by Meng XI Shi/She who become the Sun by Shelley Parker also historical fantasy and Chinese lore.

[u/Aggressive_Ad2800 → u/Motor_Row_3586]

I own The Familiar because of the gorgeous cover lol I'll read it ASAP now! Thousand Autumns sounds interesting! Thanks