Honestly, so glad you made this video. I love fantasy, but I am terrible when it comes to continuing/finishing series. Of these I have only read Piranesi- and LOVED it. Thanks for making this!
Ian how did I not know that you're such a fake fantasy fan?! You haven't read Warbreaker? You haven't read Sword of Kaigen? You haven't read American Gods?! I am abandoning our Hyperion buddy read out of spite 🤣🤣
There are so many standalones that I adore. I think Ten Thousand Doors of January would also make my favorites list. Some of my other favorites would be Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Beauty by Robin McKinley Pretty much all of Guy Gavriel Kay's books My personal favorite is Under Heavan but the rest are amazing as well. The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn, Kate Elliot, and Jennifer Roberson. This one is highly underread. It follows a noble family of painters and the royal family of a kingdom across generations. It's a political fantasy with lots of quiet moments and some romance. Art as magic and strong feminist themes throughout. Very good book.
Spinning Silver would've made my list but apparently it's marketed as a YA? So I left it off. I've never heard of the Golden Key but I am SUPER fascinated by that description...
Just a quick reminder I read Guards Guards! thanks to your rec! Also forced it down my best friend and he loved it and continued to the sequel. Thank you!
As always, great video! Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay are my favorite standalones, along with The Sword of Kaigen, which you mentioned. I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on some GGK.
Love a lot of these choices. I have Piranesi and Ten Thousand Doors of January on my TBR, looking forward to getting to them. Does Guards, Guards count as a standalone? Never gonna complain about seeing Pratchett mentioned, but I thought this was book 1 in his Watch series?
Love that you included Emperor's Soul, it doesn't get talked about enough. On top of the fantastic MC and interesting story, it also manages to detail one of the most compelling magic systems in the Cosmere. Plus it somehow manages cram all of those into a novella page count without feeling overly rushed (or maybe that just adds to the vibes because Shai is also feeling rushed w/ the task she's been given)
You made me realize that I don't really read that many standalones books. A little weird but I like series and exploring big words a lot. But Sanderson's ones I was reading multiple times, bit didn't think of it as a standalones cause of the Cosmere and its connections, but they are standalones. Warbreaker is also my favorite Sanderson's book! Love it, characters and story are amazing, and Awakening is my favorite Sanderson's magic system, and probably that's why I love Warbreaker so much. I wish for a sequel, which will happen someday. I guess I'll have to start reading more standalones.
Yeah, I think I tend to be that way too, which is why all my stand alones are much more recent. I was able to ask Sanderson in person at one of his signings about the sequel...and he basically said don't hold your breath, it'll be a while 😂😭
Guy Gavriel Kay's "Tigana" is the first thing that comes to mind when I saw your title. Its fantastic but a better starting point for GGK is probably "The Lions of Al-Rassan" or "A Song For Arbonne." Put simply, he is a master of his craft and the greatest living fantasy author of our time.
What a great list! Good Omens is soooo good. So is Guards! Guards! Piranesi is on my list to read soon hopefully. My recommendations to you are Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Night Circus, and the Starless Sea. 😁
I've already read Ocean and loved it! I've gotten The Night Circus and Starless sea recommended to me a bunch, so I know I'll eventually get to them haha
Ooh! I've actually read 7 books on your list, and I'll have to get to the others sometime! I remember enjoying The Princess Bride book though the movie might have a higher place in my heart. Good Omens was funny and witty. Warbreaker is one of my favorite Sanderson books as well. Guards! Guards! exceeded my expectations! Circe was enjoyable. I still think about The Sword of Kaigen and Piranesi deserves to be on any favorites list!
It's hard for the movie not to have a higher place on my heart since it was just such a staple of my childhood, but I still appreciate what the book delivers too.
Same! I've read exactly 7 on this list. However, the three I have not read are Circe, The Sword of Kaigen, and Piranesi. Slightly off-topic, but Brandon Sanderson's sci-fi books are fantastic, too.
@@kythian I recommend Piranesi the most out of those three. The Sword of Kaigen has some clunkiness-especially at the beginning and end- but the parts that are good are phenomenal. I listened Circe via audio and thought the narrator was excellent.
Great list! I’m also making my way through the Abercrombie “stand-alones” and totally agree that they definitely feel less like stand alones and more like one continuous timeline all interwoven together in some way. I totally agree with your pick for The Emperor’s Soul! That is probably my favorite of Brandon Sanderson’s works when it comes to the actual writing and plot structure, it’s just such a fantastic novella. Great video!
Yeah like for sure they *could* stand alone, but especially with the heroes, I feel like knowing the whole story behind Bayaz makes it make way more sense. (Spoiler ahead for those reading for first law...) I don't think I'd get why everyone feared Bayaz so much if I hadn't read the trilogy, and I think that would make the book weaker.
@@Bookborn 100% agree…I think publication order is the best way to approach Abercrombie as each book just builds on everything that’s happened before even if it’s not a direct “sequel” as in the sense it’s a continuation of the previous story
I read Guards! Guards! last year and *definitely* got those eerily-relevant-to-today vibes. Discworld books are reliably funny but that particular one has a satiric edge I doubt I'll forget. I happen to be reading Piranesi right now. Love the prose.
Very good list! A few rec's that you may want to add to your TBR just in case you haven't tried them yet - Glen Cook's The Swordbearer, Scott Hawkin's The Library at Mt. Char, Janny Wurts' To Ride Hell's Chasm, Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light, and Pérez-Reverte's The Club Dumas...;-)~
Been loving your videos! I am brand new to the Booktube verse and reading in general and i love how positive you are with everything and all your videos are so entertaining! Honestly you have inspired me to read more and i might start my own booktuber documenting my journey as a beginner fantasy reader! I will most likely start with Warbreaker because you make it sound so good!
Great list! Guards! Guards! is my default for introducing new people to Pratchett. Three that I would have picked are: Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. What can I say, he does great standalone books! A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny. More YA than the others, but I still break it out at Halloween. Lord Valentine's Castle, by Robert Silverberg. It was successful enough to spawn sequels, but just read it for itself. A wild ride on a crazy world. A little more SF, but basically fantasy.
I'll have to add some to my list! Neverwhere isn't my fav Gaiman, but I agree that he's just the best at stand alones. I mean...pretty much everything he does is, now that I'm thinking about it.
Some unmentioned standalones I loved: The Goblin Emperor by katherine Addison - political fantasy with a very humanist core. Windhaven by GRRM and lisa Tuttle - technically sci-fi, but feels like fantasy. A great book about prejudice and classism that I was shocked to see was written in the 70s Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders- a civil war ghost story written in a unique way The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A lifetime long magician's duel happening in a fantastical circus. The End of the Day by Claire North - A milquetoast englishman takes a job as the Harbinger of Death (one of the four horseman) and travels the world in his service. The Curse of Chalion & A Paladin of Souls by Lois Mcmaster Bujold - two standalones in the same fantasy world with some of the most memorable lines of writing I've ever read.
Ten thousand doors of January sounds right up my alley ! American Gods is on my list ! Who knows when I’ll get to it but I’m glad to hear you approve of it Love Piranesi and SoK.
Piranesi is HIGH on my TBR, I just know it is going to be one of those books that works for me! Sword of Kaigen, I just can't say enough good things about it! One of my favorites and I think the one that started me looking for more fantasy books that have moms as main characters.
Thanks for expanding my must-reads list! I've only read one of the tomes you mentioned -- American Gods, which I listened to as a book on tape during a road trip -- seems I'd best get on the stick, lol. Rarer still than fantasy stand-alones, it seems, are duologies. Have you read The Wizard Knight, by Gene Wolfe? Almost vertiginously weird. I loved it. Love your videos!
I've never had a bad time reading terry pratchett, that man has such a way. It's good to hear discworld is more of a series of standalones bc I was sort of intimidated by how many there are. I absolutely LOVE the princess bride, i recommend that book to everyone because it really is as good as the movie, if not as culturally relevant. Neil gaiman has always intimidated me (I've never read any of his works) but I really enjoyed the good omens show so maybe I'll have to pick up American gods sometime.
Have you read Good Omens? Because that book is so great. You could also start with Gaiman's shorter works like Ocean At the End of the Lane, which is also really good.
Some favourites are (excluding those on the list I've read) To ride hell's chasm - Janny Wurts Ash (a secret history) - Mary Gentle The Silvered - Tanya Huff The fire's stone - Tanya Huff This one sky day - Leone Ross (YA I think) Nation - Terry Pratchett Dreamweaver - Jonathan Wylie Little thieves - Margaret Owen A wizards guide to defensive baking - T Kingfisher Starless - Jacqueline Carey Race the sands - Sarah Beth Durst
I love love LOVED the princess bride book, also didn't know it existed until after I saw the movie. For a recommendation: Life of Pi the book is incredible (depends if you consider it a fantasy though lol)
I loved Sword of Kaigen so much. It was one of my top books last year. I would add Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Stand and 11-22-63 by Stephen King.
@@Bookborn I dnf'd the witch book because I felt her beautiful prose made the subject matter feel way too grim dark which I don't do. I was definitely very disappointed!
Interesting recommendations. I had never heard of the Ten Thousand Doors of January but felt its magic within the first couple of paragraphs. There were times when I was obliged to reserve judgment and give the author a chance to redeem things. However, ... If there were ever a sequel, I'd approach it with anticipation. So I've a perhaps slightly unusual question. I like books that amuse my vocabulary--or even occasionally send me to the dictionary. Most authors don't. It's one of the things I appreciated about Patrick Rothfuss. Also, Mervyn Peake. Lovecraft, too, at times. So what I'm wondering is, are there authors you can recommend for their particularly rarefied, occasionally sesquipedalian, wordcraftsmanship--in addition to writing engagingly magical stories?
Some of my favorites are on this list! I'd add The Priory of the orange tree by Samantha Shannon. It's. It particularly new, but she wanted to give us the feel of the old blanket epic fantasy books we used to love with diverse characters, and I feel like she perfectly managed.
I really want to read Priory but I always get so scared by it's size 🤣 Which is ironic since most of my favorite books are huge. It's just always hard to start them lol
They are just a lot more rare in adult fantasy than YA/middle grade. I think because when people think adult fantasy think super expansive worlds that take thousands of pages to explain lol
Great selection. I am shamed to admit I have only read about half of those!! I need to get on it, I suppose! I do love a good standalone when I know I don't really have the time/mental capacity to commit to a longer series! ...there's a reason I still haven't attempted another shot at Malazan! One recommendation that immediately came to mind is Arcadia by Iain Pears. Read that one? It's not exactly fantasy, but it is purely fantastic and it was one of the books that caught me off guard with how much I loved it when I read it a few years back. If you do read it, I beg you, please don't look up too much info about it and stay away from spoilers. Reading this without any forewarning on what was going on was a lovely reading experience...
I think it's easy to dismiss Terry Pratchett as just a great writer. His works feel quite timeless, and I suspect will age brilliantly. It sounds trite, but he truly feels like a modern Dickens holding a mirror up to our imperfect society.
When I started being interested in adult Fantasy again after years of reading mainly classics and literary fiction, I was determined to put up a list that would fit my tastes (great prose, multilayered characters, interesting themes). Since I don't really like reading very long series, I watched quite a few videos on Fantasy standalones and decided to read them this year. I started with Tigana (that I DNFed half-way through), then The Sword of Kaigen (LOVED it!), then Piranesi (not a favourite, but I still liked it - I wish the prose was a bit more flowery and I personally found it predictable and wish the ending was more memorable?), and I'm currently reading Skullsworn by Brian Staveley (one of Petrik Leo's favourite!) and I'm really enjoying it, the writing is just perfect in my opinion, it reminds me of The Name of The Wind. ☺️ The next one I was going to pick up was The Ten Thousand Doors of January exactly because I love Narnia so much and so love the portal Fantasy concept! What a coincidence. 👏 I've only read Coraline by Gaiman (which I liked), but I should definitely check out his other works! American Gods especially intrigues me. And I'm interested in reading Terry Pratchett, but I'm putting it off because I'm not really into absurdism usually. 😅 Oh and I almost forgot The Princess Bride! I read it years ago before watching the movie for the first time. They were both enjoyable, but I must say some scenes were definitely less cringy in the book in my opinion 😂 Here's a short list of the other adult Fantasy standalones I'm planning to pick up soon: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Guns of The Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Folding Knife by K. J. Parker, and Babel by R. F. Kuang (it might be a series, not sure lol). If you have any other suggestions..! Or you can redirect me to another video, I'll watch it gladly. 🥰
Jonathan Strange is SO good. It's a long, slow one, but completely worth it. I hope you like Ten Thousand Doors...with your reading background I think you will
He's so great! It's funny because I didn't get off on the best start with him, but I'm so glad I've kept reading because I've loved almost everything else by him I've read
Jade by Joseph R Lallo is a great short novel standalone. I think he has other books set in this world but this story is contained in a single book. I think it will be one of the first fantasy novels I read to my kids when they are old enough
I adore both "Piranesi" ( actually my favorite book of all times) and "Sword of Kaigen". I would highly recommend "Race the Sands" by Sarah Beth Durst. If you enjoy a bit of weird fiction elements I also loved "Tainaron: Mail from Another City" by Leena Krohn.
Bunch of good descriptions here! Have to say though - the different ending of the book version of The Princess Bride really let me down. Much prefer the movie on this one.
I've never been a fan of Brandon Sanderson, but I really liked "The Emperor's Soul". It does feature one of my biggest criticisms of Sanderson, that his magic and his scenarios feel to much liked they were developed on an Excel sheet. However, in this book it didn't bother me too much since it is a novella. It is short. It is standalone. It is basically an idea that was fleshed out into a book. As such, I loved it. Especially because it was my first Sanderson book. But it also made me mad, though not because of its content. I discovered the german edition in my town libary. I wanted to buy it but as it turned out, novellas are rarely published in Germany. So they squeezed it together with two teasers of other fantasy series so that it got to novel size and price. I said "No", and went for the english edition. Really, what was the german publisher thinking? I was so glad that I have finally found a fine, standalone fantasy book that doesn't have thousands of pages! I would love to get much more books in that format! Question: What do you think of "The Last Unicorn"?
What are you talking about? The Lies of Locke Lamora is amazing! The plot is engaging, the characters and their relationships are compelling, the dialogue is hilarious.
Some possibilities not mentioned: Perdido Street Station by China Meiville, Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint, Legend by David Gemmell, Brokedown Palace by Steven Brust.
David Gemmell is so overlooked these days its hard to believe he was incredibly popular 20 odd years ago. His book, Morningstar, for me is one of the best heroic fantasy novels and standalone stories I've ever read.
I tend to view all three New Crobuzon novels as a series, although it could be argued all all stand alone. That said I love them all but Iron Council is the stand out for me by a hair's width!
@@russhaywood6418 I've not yet read Iron Council, but certainly intend to. I loved both Perdido Street Station and The Scar, and while they are connected, they both work perfectly well also as standalone. Obviously I don't know if Iron Council does anything to make the three seem more like a unified series, rather than distinct narratives in a common world. Your endorsement makes me want to pick up a copy of Iron Council today (if only any bookstore carried it.)
No Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell!? I’d add The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and both All the Horses of Iceland and The Fourth Island by Sarah Tolmie to that list.
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins is a must read! Nothing else really like it! Definitely recommend giving it a shot for an interesting and exciting read.
I would pick warbreaker from that list, but that is me being predictable. I tend to read massive series, but will try some of he others on the list- thanks.
Would you consider Sword of Kaigen to be "grimdark"? IIRC, it's got some pretty heavy content warnings, and hopeless vibes for parts of the story. I haven't seen* it called grimdark, but not sure if that's just the general bias against categorizing books by female authors as grimdark. *admittedly I haven't specifically looked for it. Partially because a lot of books that are definitively grimdark don't sound like they're for me
I absolutely feel like Sword of Kaigen is grimdark even though I think a lot of people would disagree lol. However, Kaigen does have a lot of hope ultimately, and the characters are TRYING to be good, which is different than a lot of grimdark. I'll say that I generally don't like Grimdark, in fact, for the most part, Abercrombie is the only self-proclaimed grimdark author that I've liked so far because the others go too dark. I think Kaigen is very dark, but it's hope combined with non-dark characters make it less difficult to get through.
Nettle and Bone and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking both by T. Kingfisher. I love them so much I wish they were a series. I loved the endings, but I was sad when I finished reading them. I found myself missing the characters. Please read them!🙂
I was loving Warbreaker but the rushed conclusion stopped the book from becoming a favourite for me. Also yes, I adore The Princess Bride. Also agreed, The Heroes is the least newcomer friendly out of any First Law.
Yes, yes, haven’t read that one, yes, yes, yes, haven’t read, have not read YET - I have it!, YES! And haven’t read yet. Moral of this video for me: read Gaimen and Pratchett!
I always say Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie is my favorite SFF standalone even though I know it's controversial about whether or not it's actually a standalone (imo it can 100% be read as one). I also really love Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Circe, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
My recent{ish) best stand alone are The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (which I cannot praise enough and possibly my number 1 fantasy novel of all time), Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and Skullsworn by Brian Stavely.
Pretty good list, but Heroes was the first Abercrombie book I read, leading me to disagree with your note saying it's strongly connected to the First Law trilogy. Everything in it is entirely understandable without having any First Law knowledge. I'll also second your explanation about Piranesi in that everyone who I've convinced to read the book--even those who don't usually enjoy fantasy--say the book stays with them long after finishing it. Circe is excellent no matter the list.
I was wondering if anyone had done that. SOmeone I know wants to start at the Heroes, and I didn't know what to tell them. So it worked for you without prior knowledge?
Trying to think of 10 standalones I have read not by Gaiman, Clive Barker and GGK has been mentioned. So will add Watership Down as older book that doesn't get talked about much.
It’s not fantasy, more sci fi, but The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson is something I think you’d enjoy. Multiversal story, a strong female protagonist and side characters and not too long of a read.
Idk I just finished Reaper Man which was also just sooo amazing. I think I have to Tier rank them now because it’s too hard to order them since there’s so many good ones
Ok I was wondering why it wasn't working anymore, and recently I just started removing the words after 00:00 and I wonder if that's why it's not working well...
Some of my favorite standalone adult fantasy (and science fiction) books: Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone (science fiction) Was Preema nicht weiß by Sameena Jehanzeb (science fiction/fantasy) Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot (science fiction) Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (science fiction/fantasy) Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Vox Machina: Kith & Kiln by Marieke Nijkamp
I love Piranesi, Circe and the Ten Thousand Doors of January. I'd add The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and The Binding by Bridget Collins to my list. The Lies of Locke Lamora is fine just don't expect interesting female characters...
I’m doing my best to figure out what her shirt says, and my best guess is “PIG SEX.” 😂 Since I’m sure that’s not what it says, maybe someone can put my mind to rest.
@@Bookborn Thanks! That makes much more sense. Anytime you wear a shirt with writing on it, I feel like Steve Harvey on Family Feud asking the contestants to move their hair off their name tag except you can’t hear me.
The only one I could see you arguing isn’t stand alone is Guards Guards. Literally every single other one is? Sure, Warbreaker might get a sequel but Sanderson told me himself at a signing it’ll be one of the last in the Cosmere. Warbreaker is effectively a stand alone and his fandom usually treats it as such.
I am not a big re-reader of books, but I was pleasantly surprised when I reread Warbreaker and enjoyed it so much (perhaps more than any other reread of my Brandon Sanderson books), so I get the take that Warbreaker could be Brandon's best book.
I find most Sanderson to be good on a reread for me, but Warbreaker is super high. It's rare when a book can get me as invested as the first time around but Warbreaker managed to do it.
![일상 속 기분 좋음 [Proto disco meme]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DwmEIaZ7XGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Honestly, so glad you made this video. I love fantasy, but I am terrible when it comes to continuing/finishing series. Of these I have only read Piranesi- and LOVED it. Thanks for making this!
Sometimes it's nice going into a book knowing it won't lead you to five more afterwards 😂
Ian how did I not know that you're such a fake fantasy fan?! You haven't read Warbreaker? You haven't read Sword of Kaigen? You haven't read American Gods?! I am abandoning our Hyperion buddy read out of spite 🤣🤣
I love how well-worn your copy of Warbreaker is. :D Also one of my all-time fav Sandersons!!
...will comment again once I finish watching video.
There are so many standalones that I adore. I think Ten Thousand Doors of January would also make my favorites list.
Some of my other favorites would be Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Pretty much all of Guy Gavriel Kay's books My personal favorite is Under Heavan but the rest are amazing as well.
The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn, Kate Elliot, and Jennifer Roberson. This one is highly underread. It follows a noble family of painters and the royal family of a kingdom across generations. It's a political fantasy with lots of quiet moments and some romance. Art as magic and strong feminist themes throughout. Very good book.
Spinning Silver would've made my list but apparently it's marketed as a YA? So I left it off.
I've never heard of the Golden Key but I am SUPER fascinated by that description...
Just a quick reminder I read Guards Guards! thanks to your rec! Also forced it down my best friend and he loved it and continued to the sequel. Thank you!
As always, great video!
Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay are my favorite standalones, along with The Sword of Kaigen, which you mentioned. I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on some GGK.
Tigana is fantastic. GGK writes so well. Especially given the sadness of the subject. Its excellent and sad at the same time!
I'm getting recommended GGK a LOT in this thread, and I feel like it's crazy I haven't read any of him yet
@@Bookborn he assisted Christopher Tolkien with the Silmarillion.
Love a lot of these choices. I have Piranesi and Ten Thousand Doors of January on my TBR, looking forward to getting to them. Does Guards, Guards count as a standalone? Never gonna complain about seeing Pratchett mentioned, but I thought this was book 1 in his Watch series?
Love that you included Emperor's Soul, it doesn't get talked about enough. On top of the fantastic MC and interesting story, it also manages to detail one of the most compelling magic systems in the Cosmere. Plus it somehow manages cram all of those into a novella page count without feeling overly rushed (or maybe that just adds to the vibes because Shai is also feeling rushed w/ the task she's been given)
Probably one of my favorite magic systems in the cosmere, tbh, and that's saying a lot
Loved American God's! So good... Also by Susanna Clarke- Johnathan Strange! Just Beautiful!
Yes for JS&MrN! Again there's nothing quite like it for world building in our world (re-building?)
You made me realize that I don't really read that many standalones books. A little weird but I like series and exploring big words a lot. But Sanderson's ones I was reading multiple times, bit didn't think of it as a standalones cause of the Cosmere and its connections, but they are standalones. Warbreaker is also my favorite Sanderson's book! Love it, characters and story are amazing, and Awakening is my favorite Sanderson's magic system, and probably that's why I love Warbreaker so much. I wish for a sequel, which will happen someday. I guess I'll have to start reading more standalones.
Yeah, I think I tend to be that way too, which is why all my stand alones are much more recent. I was able to ask Sanderson in person at one of his signings about the sequel...and he basically said don't hold your breath, it'll be a while 😂😭
Guy Gavriel Kay's "Tigana" is the first thing that comes to mind when I saw your title. Its fantastic but a better starting point for GGK is probably "The Lions of Al-Rassan" or "A Song For Arbonne." Put simply, he is a master of his craft and the greatest living fantasy author of our time.
Tigana has been mentioned hands down the MOST on this video, so I've def added it to my must-read list.
The way we immediately saw Piranesi in the corner 👀 Great video as always!
Some really awesome recs here, especially SOK, I'll need to try out Guards guards, thank you!
What a great list! Good Omens is soooo good. So is Guards! Guards! Piranesi is on my list to read soon hopefully. My recommendations to you are Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Night Circus, and the Starless Sea. 😁
I've already read Ocean and loved it! I've gotten The Night Circus and Starless sea recommended to me a bunch, so I know I'll eventually get to them haha
Ooh! I've actually read 7 books on your list, and I'll have to get to the others sometime! I remember enjoying The Princess Bride book though the movie might have a higher place in my heart. Good Omens was funny and witty. Warbreaker is one of my favorite Sanderson books as well. Guards! Guards! exceeded my expectations! Circe was enjoyable. I still think about The Sword of Kaigen and Piranesi deserves to be on any favorites list!
It's hard for the movie not to have a higher place on my heart since it was just such a staple of my childhood, but I still appreciate what the book delivers too.
@@Bookborn I wonder if you might enjoy Legends and Lattes! It's a fun palate cleanser standalone.
Same! I've read exactly 7 on this list. However, the three I have not read are Circe, The Sword of Kaigen, and Piranesi.
Slightly off-topic, but Brandon Sanderson's sci-fi books are fantastic, too.
@@kythian I recommend Piranesi the most out of those three. The Sword of Kaigen has some clunkiness-especially at the beginning and end- but the parts that are good are phenomenal. I listened Circe via audio and thought the narrator was excellent.
Great list! I’m also making my way through the Abercrombie “stand-alones” and totally agree that they definitely feel less like stand alones and more like one continuous timeline all interwoven together in some way. I totally agree with your pick for The Emperor’s Soul! That is probably my favorite of Brandon Sanderson’s works when it comes to the actual writing and plot structure, it’s just such a fantastic novella. Great video!
Yeah like for sure they *could* stand alone, but especially with the heroes, I feel like knowing the whole story behind Bayaz makes it make way more sense. (Spoiler ahead for those reading for first law...) I don't think I'd get why everyone feared Bayaz so much if I hadn't read the trilogy, and I think that would make the book weaker.
@@Bookborn 100% agree…I think publication order is the best way to approach Abercrombie as each book just builds on everything that’s happened before even if it’s not a direct “sequel” as in the sense it’s a continuation of the previous story
I read Guards! Guards! last year and *definitely* got those eerily-relevant-to-today vibes. Discworld books are reliably funny but that particular one has a satiric edge I doubt I'll forget.
I happen to be reading Piranesi right now. Love the prose.
Very good list! A few rec's that you may want to add to your TBR just in case you haven't tried them yet - Glen Cook's The Swordbearer, Scott Hawkin's The Library at Mt. Char, Janny Wurts' To Ride Hell's Chasm, Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light, and Pérez-Reverte's The Club Dumas...;-)~
Added to my never ending tbr 😭
Yes for Lord of Light! I reread it every few years, it's always refreshing. There is really nothing else like it to my knowledge.
Been loving your videos! I am brand new to the Booktube verse and reading in general and i love how positive you are with everything and all your videos are so entertaining! Honestly you have inspired me to read more and i might start my own booktuber documenting my journey as a beginner fantasy reader! I will most likely start with Warbreaker because you make it sound so good!
Solid list! Not enough stand alones in fantasy!
Great list! Guards! Guards! is my default for introducing new people to Pratchett. Three that I would have picked are:
Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. What can I say, he does great standalone books!
A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny. More YA than the others, but I still break it out at Halloween.
Lord Valentine's Castle, by Robert Silverberg. It was successful enough to spawn sequels, but just read it for itself. A wild ride on a crazy world. A little more SF, but basically fantasy.
I'll have to add some to my list! Neverwhere isn't my fav Gaiman, but I agree that he's just the best at stand alones. I mean...pretty much everything he does is, now that I'm thinking about it.
Happy reading to you!! 😊
great choices! Have you checked out Tigana? I really enjoyed it :)
That’s been one of the most recommended so I need to read it for sure!
Some unmentioned standalones I loved:
The Goblin Emperor by katherine Addison - political fantasy with a very humanist core.
Windhaven by GRRM and lisa Tuttle - technically sci-fi, but feels like fantasy. A great book about prejudice and classism that I was shocked to see was written in the 70s
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders- a civil war ghost story written in a unique way
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A lifetime long magician's duel happening in a fantastical circus.
The End of the Day by Claire North - A milquetoast englishman takes a job as the Harbinger of Death (one of the four horseman) and travels the world in his service.
The Curse of Chalion & A Paladin of Souls by Lois Mcmaster Bujold - two standalones in the same fantasy world with some of the most memorable lines of writing I've ever read.
I've heard so much about the Night Circus...but a lot of it has been conflicting reviews so I'm still uncertain if I"m ever going to pick that one up
Yes for Goblin Emperor! The followups about Celehar are great too but definitely spinoffs.
Ten thousand doors of January sounds right up my alley !
American Gods is on my list ! Who knows when I’ll get to it but I’m glad to hear you approve of it
Love Piranesi and SoK.
Oh man Alicia I feel like you are gonna LOVE Ten Thousand Doors.
Perfectly timed video for me. Thanks!
Piranesi is HIGH on my TBR, I just know it is going to be one of those books that works for me!
Sword of Kaigen, I just can't say enough good things about it! One of my favorites and I think the one that started me looking for more fantasy books that have moms as main characters.
I can't believe you haven't read Piranesi yet! I swear you're gonna LOVE it
@@Bookborn it's been high on the list for a while, I really want to get to it soon.
Thanks for expanding my must-reads list! I've only read one of the tomes you mentioned -- American Gods, which I listened to as a book on tape during a road trip -- seems I'd best get on the stick, lol.
Rarer still than fantasy stand-alones, it seems, are duologies. Have you read The Wizard Knight, by Gene Wolfe? Almost vertiginously weird. I loved it.
Love your videos!
Things I love about The Sword of Kaigen: absolutely everything
I've never had a bad time reading terry pratchett, that man has such a way. It's good to hear discworld is more of a series of standalones bc I was sort of intimidated by how many there are.
I absolutely LOVE the princess bride, i recommend that book to everyone because it really is as good as the movie, if not as culturally relevant.
Neil gaiman has always intimidated me (I've never read any of his works) but I really enjoyed the good omens show so maybe I'll have to pick up American gods sometime.
Have you read Good Omens? Because that book is so great. You could also start with Gaiman's shorter works like Ocean At the End of the Lane, which is also really good.
@@Bookborn thanks for the recommendation!! As soon as I catch up on my pratchett I'll give those two a read.
Some favourites are (excluding those on the list I've read)
To ride hell's chasm - Janny Wurts
Ash (a secret history) - Mary Gentle
The Silvered - Tanya Huff
The fire's stone - Tanya Huff
This one sky day - Leone Ross
(YA I think)
Nation - Terry Pratchett
Dreamweaver - Jonathan Wylie
Little thieves - Margaret Owen
A wizards guide to defensive baking - T Kingfisher
Starless - Jacqueline Carey
Race the sands - Sarah Beth Durst
Ahh thanks for all the recs!
Warbreaker is my favorite Sanderson too!
YES! Warbreaker fans unite!
Started reading Warbreaker literally a day before watching this video, so now I'm even more confident in my choice
I hope you love it 😊
Little, Big by John Crowley. I can see it not being for everyone but it's a classic for me.
Great picks! 🥳
Haven't heard of that one lol!
@@Bookborn I like to describe it as A Hundred Years of Solitude, but in the US countryside, with fairies 🧚🐟🏘️
I love love LOVED the princess bride book, also didn't know it existed until after I saw the movie. For a recommendation: Life of Pi the book is incredible (depends if you consider it a fantasy though lol)
I loved Sword of Kaigen so much. It was one of my top books last year. I would add Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Stand and 11-22-63 by Stephen King.
I need to read some Tchaikovsky. I thought he was more sci-fi though? Or did he dabble in fantasy
@@Bookborn Guns of the Dawn is a flintlock fantasy, I would say. I believe he usually writes scifi though.
@@Bookborn he does a fair amount of both but his sci-fi tends to be higher regarded. Guns of the Dawn is awesome!
Sword of Kaigen hit me harder than anything else I've read for years
It's so good. Man about halfway through that book it just gets...so emotional
I am going to read Sword of Kaigan and Piranesi this year! LOVE seeing Ten Thousand Doors of January in here! And if course, Sanderson.
Have you read any of the other works by Harrow? I'm bummed because I didn't love them quite as much as Ten Thousand Doors
@@Bookborn I dnf'd the witch book because I felt her beautiful prose made the subject matter feel way too grim dark which I don't do. I was definitely very disappointed!
Interesting recommendations. I had never heard of the Ten Thousand Doors of January but felt its magic within the first couple of paragraphs. There were times when I was obliged to reserve judgment and give the author a chance to redeem things. However, ... If there were ever a sequel, I'd approach it with anticipation.
So I've a perhaps slightly unusual question. I like books that amuse my vocabulary--or even occasionally send me to the dictionary. Most authors don't. It's one of the things I appreciated about Patrick Rothfuss. Also, Mervyn Peake. Lovecraft, too, at times.
So what I'm wondering is, are there authors you can recommend for their particularly rarefied, occasionally sesquipedalian, wordcraftsmanship--in addition to writing engagingly magical stories?
Some of my favorites are on this list! I'd add The Priory of the orange tree by Samantha Shannon. It's. It particularly new, but she wanted to give us the feel of the old blanket epic fantasy books we used to love with diverse characters, and I feel like she perfectly managed.
I love this book, I fell in love with the characters, the story, everything, it's one of the best books I read last year
I really want to read Priory but I always get so scared by it's size 🤣 Which is ironic since most of my favorite books are huge. It's just always hard to start them lol
@@Bookborn , I totally understand, I was scared too, but I read it so fast, I just couldn't put it down :)
@@ssfrghy Same here! I was intimidated by the length but I flew through it!
Thanks for recommendations, I will listen to some on audible.
I am always curious about more standalones. I've read a decent chunk of these but not all of them
They are just a lot more rare in adult fantasy than YA/middle grade. I think because when people think adult fantasy think super expansive worlds that take thousands of pages to explain lol
Great selection. I am shamed to admit I have only read about half of those!! I need to get on it, I suppose! I do love a good standalone when I know I don't really have the time/mental capacity to commit to a longer series! ...there's a reason I still haven't attempted another shot at Malazan!
One recommendation that immediately came to mind is Arcadia by Iain Pears. Read that one? It's not exactly fantasy, but it is purely fantastic and it was one of the books that caught me off guard with how much I loved it when I read it a few years back. If you do read it, I beg you, please don't look up too much info about it and stay away from spoilers. Reading this without any forewarning on what was going on was a lovely reading experience...
I think it's easy to dismiss Terry Pratchett as just a great writer. His works feel quite timeless, and I suspect will age brilliantly. It sounds trite, but he truly feels like a modern Dickens holding a mirror up to our imperfect society.
You won't hear disagreement from me. I regularly call him a genius. I am positive he will be remembered well after his time.
When I started being interested in adult Fantasy again after years of reading mainly classics and literary fiction, I was determined to put up a list that would fit my tastes (great prose, multilayered characters, interesting themes). Since I don't really like reading very long series, I watched quite a few videos on Fantasy standalones and decided to read them this year. I started with Tigana (that I DNFed half-way through), then The Sword of Kaigen (LOVED it!), then Piranesi (not a favourite, but I still liked it - I wish the prose was a bit more flowery and I personally found it predictable and wish the ending was more memorable?), and I'm currently reading Skullsworn by Brian Staveley (one of Petrik Leo's favourite!) and I'm really enjoying it, the writing is just perfect in my opinion, it reminds me of The Name of The Wind. ☺️ The next one I was going to pick up was The Ten Thousand Doors of January exactly because I love Narnia so much and so love the portal Fantasy concept! What a coincidence. 👏
I've only read Coraline by Gaiman (which I liked), but I should definitely check out his other works! American Gods especially intrigues me. And I'm interested in reading Terry Pratchett, but I'm putting it off because I'm not really into absurdism usually. 😅 Oh and I almost forgot The Princess Bride! I read it years ago before watching the movie for the first time. They were both enjoyable, but I must say some scenes were definitely less cringy in the book in my opinion 😂
Here's a short list of the other adult Fantasy standalones I'm planning to pick up soon: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Guns of The Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Folding Knife by K. J. Parker, and Babel by R. F. Kuang (it might be a series, not sure lol).
If you have any other suggestions..! Or you can redirect me to another video, I'll watch it gladly. 🥰
Jonathan Strange is SO good. It's a long, slow one, but completely worth it. I hope you like Ten Thousand Doors...with your reading background I think you will
Thank you, for sending Neil Gaiman some love!
He's so great! It's funny because I didn't get off on the best start with him, but I'm so glad I've kept reading because I've loved almost everything else by him I've read
I had the same experience. I believe when I read his “Norse Mythology” did my journey really begin. His dialogue was so witty and alive, that i
I started reading all his books.
Ayyy, The Princess Bride. I just read that, and yes it was hilarious.
A perfect compliment to the movie, which isn't a surprise since the author wrote the screenplay
Guy Gavriel Kay has become my go to for Fantasy standalones.
Jade by Joseph R Lallo is a great short novel standalone. I think he has other books set in this world but this story is contained in a single book. I think it will be one of the first fantasy novels I read to my kids when they are old enough
Piranesi is so awesome. One of my favorite books ever. 🤩
It's just SO GOOD
I loved Warbreaker and The Princess Bride. I will add the rest of these to my never ending Tbr.
I adore both "Piranesi" ( actually my favorite book of all times) and "Sword of Kaigen". I would highly recommend "Race the Sands" by Sarah Beth Durst. If you enjoy a bit of weird fiction elements I also loved "Tainaron: Mail from Another City" by Leena Krohn.
Thanks for the recs! Anyone who says Piranesi is their favorite book of all time is trusted to me LOL
Where can you buy Sword of Kaigen? It's not on my usual non-amazon book site :(
It's a self-published book, so unfortunately it's probably going to be pretty hard to find off amazon 😭
Bunch of good descriptions here! Have to say though - the different ending of the book version of The Princess Bride really let me down. Much prefer the movie on this one.
I've never been a fan of Brandon Sanderson, but I really liked "The Emperor's Soul".
It does feature one of my biggest criticisms of Sanderson, that his magic and his scenarios feel to much liked they were developed on an Excel sheet.
However, in this book it didn't bother me too much since it is a novella. It is short. It is standalone. It is basically an idea that was fleshed out into a book. As such, I loved it. Especially because it was my first Sanderson book.
But it also made me mad, though not because of its content. I discovered the german edition in my town libary. I wanted to buy it but as it turned out, novellas are rarely published in Germany. So they squeezed it together with two teasers of other fantasy series so that it got to novel size and price. I said "No", and went for the english edition.
Really, what was the german publisher thinking?
I was so glad that I have finally found a fine, standalone fantasy book that doesn't have thousands of pages! I would love to get much more books in that format!
Question: What do you think of "The Last Unicorn"?
I would go with low expectations for The Lies of Locke Lamora just to be on the safe side of not being disappointed hahaha
haha oh noooo it's been hyped to me by so many people for years at this point 😂
@@Bookborn it’s a really good book, but overhyped. I loved it and the next, but haven’t gotten to the third yet.
What are you talking about? The Lies of Locke Lamora is amazing! The plot is engaging, the characters and their relationships are compelling, the dialogue is hilarious.
i listened to it on audiobook, it was great :)
Some possibilities not mentioned: Perdido Street Station by China Meiville, Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint, Legend by David Gemmell, Brokedown Palace by Steven Brust.
David Gemmell is so overlooked these days its hard to believe he was incredibly popular 20 odd years ago. His book, Morningstar, for me is one of the best heroic fantasy novels and standalone stories I've ever read.
Seconded for Brokedown Palace
I tend to view all three New Crobuzon novels as a series, although it could be argued all all stand alone. That said I love them all but Iron Council is the stand out for me by a hair's width!
@@russhaywood6418 I've not yet read Iron Council, but certainly intend to. I loved both Perdido Street Station and The Scar, and while they are connected, they both work perfectly well also as standalone. Obviously I don't know if Iron Council does anything to make the three seem more like a unified series, rather than distinct narratives in a common world. Your endorsement makes me want to pick up a copy of Iron Council today (if only any bookstore carried it.)
No Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell!? I’d add The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and both All the Horses of Iceland and The Fourth Island by Sarah Tolmie to that list.
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins is a must read! Nothing else really like it! Definitely recommend giving it a shot for an interesting and exciting read.
I love the Princess Bride!
Such a good book! (And movie)
I highly recommend The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North. It’s one of my favorite stand along books.
I would pick warbreaker from that list, but that is me being predictable. I tend to read massive series, but will try some of he others on the list- thanks.
Would you consider Sword of Kaigen to be "grimdark"?
IIRC, it's got some pretty heavy content warnings, and hopeless vibes for parts of the story. I haven't seen* it called grimdark, but not sure if that's just the general bias against categorizing books by female authors as grimdark.
*admittedly I haven't specifically looked for it. Partially because a lot of books that are definitively grimdark don't sound like they're for me
I absolutely feel like Sword of Kaigen is grimdark even though I think a lot of people would disagree lol. However, Kaigen does have a lot of hope ultimately, and the characters are TRYING to be good, which is different than a lot of grimdark. I'll say that I generally don't like Grimdark, in fact, for the most part, Abercrombie is the only self-proclaimed grimdark author that I've liked so far because the others go too dark. I think Kaigen is very dark, but it's hope combined with non-dark characters make it less difficult to get through.
The Redemption of Athalus by David Eddings. Possibly one of the greatest books of all time
Oohh I haven't even heard of it yet 👀
Dammit, this is the other top video I was going to do this year
I BEAT YOU TO IT SUCKER (jk this is a video everyone has done and you should absolutely do it, I wanna see your favs)
@@Bookborn Well, I did this one finally. My next top list is going to be one you haven't done. I guarantee it!
Nettle and Bone and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking both by T. Kingfisher. I love them so much I wish they were a series. I loved the endings, but I was sad when I finished reading them. I found myself missing the characters. Please read them!🙂
I was loving Warbreaker but the rushed conclusion stopped the book from becoming a favourite for me.
Also yes, I adore The Princess Bride.
Also agreed, The Heroes is the least newcomer friendly out of any First Law.
Although someone else said that they started with the heroes and loved it so... but it felt like I needed the background, particularly on Bayaz.
Yes, yes, haven’t read that one, yes, yes, yes, haven’t read, have not read YET - I have it!, YES! And haven’t read yet. Moral of this video for me: read Gaimen and Pratchett!
I always say Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie is my favorite SFF standalone even though I know it's controversial about whether or not it's actually a standalone (imo it can 100% be read as one). I also really love Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Circe, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
you should check out the neverending story. it's a great movie but the book just blows it out of the water!
My recent{ish) best stand alone are The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (which I cannot praise enough and possibly my number 1 fantasy novel of all time), Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and Skullsworn by Brian Stavely.
You haven't read Lies of Locke Lamora? For shame!
I agree with your picks, except the two I haven't read and the one I don't like 🤪
Pretty good list, but Heroes was the first Abercrombie book I read, leading me to disagree with your note saying it's strongly connected to the First Law trilogy. Everything in it is entirely understandable without having any First Law knowledge. I'll also second your explanation about Piranesi in that everyone who I've convinced to read the book--even those who don't usually enjoy fantasy--say the book stays with them long after finishing it. Circe is excellent no matter the list.
I was wondering if anyone had done that. SOmeone I know wants to start at the Heroes, and I didn't know what to tell them. So it worked for you without prior knowledge?
@@Bookborn Absolutely. The Heroes is one of my favorite novels.
Trying to think of 10 standalones I have read not by Gaiman, Clive Barker and GGK has been mentioned.
So will add Watership Down as older book that doesn't get talked about much.
Oh Watership Down is one I've heard a ton about. Probably need to get that on my tbr
I can remember loving 'Imagica' and 'The Great And Secret Show' back in the mists of time. Is Barker still writing?
It’s not fantasy, more sci fi, but The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson is something I think you’d enjoy. Multiversal story, a strong female protagonist and side characters and not too long of a read.
I've been wanting to read more sci-fi anyway!
@@Bookborn Pandora's Star (by Peter Hamilton) is phenomenal. If you get the audiobook you can finish it in 37.5 hours
Starless by Jaqueline Carey is excellent. Excellent author in general, but the topic is standalone so I offer this contribution.
Lilith by George MacDonald is a fascinating (if a little old) standalone fantasy novel. It has really stuck with me, definitely worth a read.
guards guards is indeed the best discworld book.
Idk I just finished Reaper Man which was also just sooo amazing. I think I have to Tier rank them now because it’s too hard to order them since there’s so many good ones
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the best fantasy stand-alones I’ve read!
Oh I've heard a lot about that one. I still haven't read any of Kay, as hard as that is to believe
@@Bookborn Also recommended by me. Read Tigana, don't get tempted by the Summer Tree.
Check out Battle Mage by Peter Flannery. Awesome relatively unknown author and novel!
Check out Weaveworld by Clive Barker. Older book, very different but I loved it.
Just a comment: I think if you change the line "00:00" to "00:00 - Start", that should help you create chapters in the video
Ok I was wondering why it wasn't working anymore, and recently I just started removing the words after 00:00 and I wonder if that's why it's not working well...
Looks like it worked :)
Some of my favorite standalone adult fantasy (and science fiction) books:
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone (science fiction)
Was Preema nicht weiß by Sameena Jehanzeb (science fiction/fantasy)
Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot (science fiction)
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (science fiction/fantasy)
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Vox Machina: Kith & Kiln by Marieke Nijkamp
My husband is reading Legends & Lattes right now and is really enjoying it, so I'm going to try to read it after too
Have you read Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay?
I love Piranesi, Circe and the Ten Thousand Doors of January. I'd add The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and The Binding by Bridget Collins to my list.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is fine just don't expect interesting female characters...
Piranesi!!
You know it had to be on the list!
I have a hard time seeing The Lies of Locke Lamora as a standalone b/c I love ther series so much
Yeah that one, like the Heroes is sort of iffy. Like it CAN be a stand alone, but you can also continue...
I’m doing my best to figure out what her shirt says, and my best guess is “PIG SEX.” 😂 Since I’m sure that’s not what it says, maybe someone can put my mind to rest.
It says Big Sur 🤣🤣 a location in california
@@Bookborn Thanks! That makes much more sense. Anytime you wear a shirt with writing on it, I feel like Steve Harvey on Family Feud asking the contestants to move their hair off their name tag except you can’t hear me.
Not trying to stay a war, but I think Pat Barker's Trojan War books are way better than Madeline Miller.
Most of these books are not stand alone
The only one I could see you arguing isn’t stand alone is Guards Guards. Literally every single other one is? Sure, Warbreaker might get a sequel but Sanderson told me himself at a signing it’ll be one of the last in the Cosmere. Warbreaker is effectively a stand alone and his fandom usually treats it as such.
@@Bookborn Sanderson has said it will not remain a stand alone and sword of kaigen is a prequel to a series
I am not a big re-reader of books, but I was pleasantly surprised when I reread Warbreaker and enjoyed it so much (perhaps more than any other reread of my Brandon Sanderson books), so I get the take that Warbreaker could be Brandon's best book.
I find most Sanderson to be good on a reread for me, but Warbreaker is super high. It's rare when a book can get me as invested as the first time around but Warbreaker managed to do it.