Yeah, this list is a little late this year. Holiday fun and winter colds put me behind. But better late than never, right?

As always, this list is my end-of-the-year effort to look back on all the books I’ve read, give a little more love to my favorites, and, hopefully, help someone discover a great story they missed out on.

by Peter Orullian

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: Vault of Heaven #1

Publisher: Tor Books (April 7, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 480 pages

My Review: The Unremembered

I had read all the negative reviews, was concerned by them, but they didn’t keep me from trying this revised edition of the story. And I’m glad I did. The Unremembered is a really good fantasy. Certainly, it reminds one of other epic fantasy in the mold of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, but Mr. Orullian infused some fresh ideas, especially with his very cool magic system.

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Genre: Fantasy — Sword and Sorcery

Series: Tides of War #1

Publisher: Angry Robot (January 3, 2017)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 400 pages

My Review: The Last Sacrifice

Yeah, this novel was released in 2017, but I read it in 2016, so I’m including it here. The reason why I couldn’t wait until my 2017 list is because more people need to read James A. Moore’s smooth, horrifying sword and sorcery books. Especially this one, which begins a new series.

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Genre: Fantasy — Sword and Sorcery

Series: Seven Forges #4

Publisher: Angry Robot (May 3, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 400 pages

My Review: The Silent Army

Dé·jà vu? Nope, I just had to also put my favorite sword and sorcery series on the list as well. It just happens to be penned by James A. Moore too. The Seven Forges series was an addictive mixture of fantasy and horror, which quickly became a guilty pleasure of mine, one which I encourage everyone else to, at least, give a try.

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Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Divine Cities #2

Publisher: Broadway Books (January 26, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 484 pages

My Review: City of Blades

Robert Jackson Bennett had a tough job trying to follow-up his spectacular City of Stairs, but he found a way with this novel. This return trip to the Continent another thrilling adventure of discovery, action, and mystical mystery!

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Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Red Queen’s War #2

Publisher: Ace (June 2, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 479 pages

My Review: Coming Soon!

This second installment of The Red Queen’s War started out slow, but soon, it picked up speed, rushing to an amazing conclusion. Nope, I haven’t read The Wheel of Osheim yet, but it is sitting on my bookshelf waiting ever so patiently for me to pick it up and find out how this trilogy ends.

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Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Gates of the World #2

Publisher: Solaris (December 27, 2016)

Length: 400 pages

My Review: Coming Soon!

While I had some issues with The Iron Ship, I desperately wanted to get my hands on this book, because there was so much potential with this story. Well, in The City of Ice, everything comes together; these amazing characters and their world unfolding before readers, mesmerizing in its action and mysteries. Loved every minute of it, can’t wait for the next installment.

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Genre: Fantasy – Flintlock

Series: Powder Mage #1

Publisher: Orbit (April 16, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 545 pages

My Review: Promise of Blood

It took me a while to pick this flintlock fantasy up, but once I did it really sunk its claws in deep. Mr. McClellan’s amazing magic system and cast of interesting characters, as well as familiar yet unique plot, keeping me glued to the pages. Now, I just have to find time to read the rest of the trilogy before his new book comes out in a couple months.

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Genre: Fantasy — Grimdark

Series: Manifest Delusions #2

Publisher: Self Published (December 15, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 455 pages

My Review: Coming Soon!

I was expecting great things out of Michael Fletcher’s follow-up to last year’s Beyond Redemption, and he exceeded my wildest hopes. This grimmest of grimdarks continued the story of our terrible trio, adding to the demented madness of this world and evolving the insane magic, which molds its ever changing reality. Now, more people need to go read it already!

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Genre: Fantasy

Series: Greatcoats #3

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (April 7, 2016)

Length: 576 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My Review: Saint’s Blood

Heroic. Humorous. Exciting. Filled with suspense. Magical. Add whatever adjectives you would like regarding Saint’s Blood as long as they basically are describing near perfection, because Sebastien de Castell produced yet another masterpiece of swashbuckling adventure with this installment of the Greatcoats series. Can hardly wait for book four!

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Genre: Fantasy – Epic

Series: The Chronicles of the Exile #3

Publisher: Tor (September 20, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 544 pages

My Review: Red Tide

This saga by Michael Turner is a beauty to experience. Filled with a huge cast, set against a sprawling world and taking place in numerous locations, it reminds most readers of Steven Erikson’s Malazan. All of which means this is an epic fantasy which just keeps getting better and better with each installment. That is your cue to go out and start reading it already! 🙂

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Well, that is my list. Hopefully, I’ve introduced you to a few novels you want to read now. And, hopefully, when you do try these novels, you’ll agree with me that they are definitely some of the best fantasy around!