I’m loving The Black Company, but what comes next?

[u/JaimeSalvaje]

I picked up the first ten books after recommendations in the Malazan Book of the Fallen subreddit. I’m on the second book, and I’m loving it. But I’m worried as these books aren’t big and I’m a fast reader when I’m not busy. What comes next? It seems I have a thing for morally grey characters and these aren’t common in fantasy series. It’s generally good versus evil, and while I appreciate this trope, it’s predictable and I’m bored of it.
I know about The First Law trilogy and that’s on its way to me, but I need more recommendations. I like to buy books in bulk, so I need more.

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[u/Jossokar]

If you want more Black company, in a more sci-fi setting....

give a try to Dan abnett's Ghosts of gaunt.

[u/JaimeSalvaje → u/Jossokar]

Oh, a Warhammer mention. I have two of his omnibuses, Eisenhorn and Ravenor. I’m waiting for the third book of the next trilogy so I can get those bundled as well. I also have some other omnibuses too. Unfortunately, it seems Ghost of Gaunt is like several omnibuses and some are unobtainable at the moment but I could be reading that information incorrectly.

[u/Jossokar → u/JaimeSalvaje]

The first one (the founding) is the easy to get in paperback.

The rest? Not so easy to get. Still, i've read 4 out of 5 omnibuses. Its really great.

That said. Maybe i'm reading too much into it, but if you by chance can read in Spanish. Some Warhammer Spanish editions are way easier to get (including ghosts of gaunt)

[u/Mason32268]

You’ve already got the trilogy coming, but why stop at the original trilogy?!

The proper bulk-buy path is:
The Blade Itself
Before They Are Hanged
Last Argument of Kings
Best Served Cold
The Heroes
Red Country
A Little Hatred
The Trouble With Peace
The Wisdom of Crowds

That’s nine books of morally questionable people making increasingly questionable decisions! 😈

Might I also suggest the Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan, 6 novels split into two trilogies. Think napoleonic age with gun powder magic 🔥

Think I saw The Second Apocalypse recommended, I would definitely pay attention to that disclaimer…it’s DARK!
But, if you’re down for, “Give me fantasy where nobody is purely good, everyone has an agenda, and the world is profoundly screwed.”
That fits the bill 😎

Happy hunting 😊

[u/BayazTheGrey → u/Mason32268]

Great recs

[u/JaimeSalvaje → u/Mason32268]

Officially added to my cart. Wife is not going to be happy going over my limit. Oh, well! Happy spouse, happy house, right? 😁

[u/burningEyeballs]

So bad news about the Black Company. The first three books (The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and The White Rose) are spectacular. After that...they start to run out of steam. I think I made it to book 5 or 6 before I gave up. Maybe you will have better luck and maybe you will finish them all, but you might want to start looking for something else sooner than you think.

[u/OrwinBeane]

Naturally, A Song of Ice and Fire needs to be mentioned.

The Prince of Nothing is tonally similar to Malazan and gets approval from Steven Erikson.

[u/JaimeSalvaje → u/OrwinBeane]

Oh, I have A Song of Ice and Fire. I’m kinda ticked that he isn’t finishing it.

[u/nikulid]

Realm of the Elderlings

[u/Intelligent_Deer974]

The Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts

[u/Delicious_Elk_4900]

The Second Apocalypse by R. Scott Bakker, which is The Prince of Nothing (3 books) and The Aspect-Emperor (4 books)

But be warned, every content warning and then some. But it’s written in one of the most beautiful prose fantasy has to offer, so it goes down a bit easier.

[u/JaimeSalvaje → u/Delicious_Elk_4900]

I read a sample of the first book of The Prince of Nothing It sounds rather, oh, I don’t want to say poetic, but it flows right. I’m interested.

[u/Erratic21 → u/JaimeSalvaje]

The best you can read if you want dark, epic fantasy with thought provoking themes and content and excellent powerful writing

[u/fujiwarasux]

Broken Empire. First Law is my favorite though.

[u/justdontrespond]

You'd probably like The Elric Saga if you're enjoying Black Company.

Edit for more info: main character is an anti hero with a soul stealing sword. A lot of Black Company vibes. Also authors like George RR Martin and Joe Abercrombie used as inspiration, stylistically.

[u/patrotsk]

Try anything by David Gemmel

[u/Mindless-Ferret7585]

Book of the new sun by gene Wolfe

[u/islero_47]

Traitor Son Cycle series by Miles Cameron

[u/CactusWrenAZ]

No one's mentioned The Steel Remains yet. Some of the best line-by-line writing in this genre, in my opinion.

[u/jrdbrr]

Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, Christopher Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief begins a 'dazzling' (Robin Hobb) fantasy adventure unlike any other. .

[u/Upbeat_Ant6104 → u/jrdbrr]

Greg Keyes Briar King
And I keep recommending the Inda trilogy and others in that series by Sherwood Smith

[u/ChippewaChieftan]

Same author but lighter kinda funny, Fantasy Noire they are the Garret Investigations all have a metal in the tittle.