I recently wrote about the cosy fantasy subgenre and a couple of my favourite books in it but this week I’m focusing on high fantasy, a genre full of daring heroes, world-ending threats and thrilling adventure. Cosy fantasy is low stakes while in high fantasy the stakes are as high as they can get.
This book is an intriguing mix of high fantasy, science fiction and horror, and features the best of these genres. Our magic system is Necromancy, and our main character is Gideon, an indentured servant of the Ninth House. She is ready to make a break for it but the heir of the Ninth House, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter and an extremely powerful bone witch, needs Gideon for one last mission. The Emperor has invited the heirs of each of the Houses to compete in a series of deadly trials to reach new heights of necromantic power and immortality. Harrowhark will be going up against the military precision of the Second House and the intelligence of the Fifth House. To complete the trials, a Necromancer needs a cavalier,
a skilled warrior, and Gideon is the best the Ninth has. Harrowhark and Gideon make a deal: Gideon helps Harrowhark complete the trials and then Gideon gains her freedom. A Necromancer / cavalier team is formed but there’s just one problem: Gideon and Harrowhark despise each other. Gideon the Ninth is a thrilling, pacey read, with a comprehensive magic system, an immersive world and a gripping mystery to be solved. The author is incredible at creating a dark, haunting atmosphere that makes for a tense, addictive read. Gideon’s brazen narrative is a delight peppered with snarky humour. However, I should warn readers that this story might not be for people who prefer more light-hearted fantasy stories or more traditional quest narratives; the horror elements are visceral, bloody and very well done in an original blend of genres.
Books in order:
The Final Empire
The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages
The Mistborn series is a brilliant high fantasy series, set in a dystopian world where ash falls from the sky, plants struggle to bloom, and a supernatural mist coats the land at night. The divinely invincible Lord Ruler reigns with absolute power, ruthlessly oppressing the Skaa peasant class. The series starts with The Final Empire, which introduces us to the charismatic, commanding half-Skaa thief, Kelsier. Kelsier is plotting one last revolutionary heist, which will lead to the overthrow of the Lord Ruler himself. He’s gathered the smartest,
most powerful allies but even that may not be enough to fulfil his ambitious plans. Until he meets Vin, a traumatized girl, and like Kelsier himself, a Mistborn. This brings us to one of the book’s core strengths: a fantastically detailed magic system called Allomancy. This magic system is based on ingesting metals, Allomancers then “burn” these metals to gain special powers, in the vein of enhanced strength or the ability to manipulate emotions. Most Allomancers can only burn one metal and are limited to one ability. Such is the case for most of Kelsier’s team. Mistborn are the exceptions, with the ability to burn all metals. Sanderson has created a detailed magic system with scientific precision, drawing readers further into the fantasy world.
The Mistborn series is incredible, a pinnacle of high fantasy, the characters are strikingly realised and readers become fully invested in their arcs, the pacing is perfect and the worldbuilding is meticulously thought out and immersive.
