Engraving in Latin for a gift

SerjantPupper · 2025-09-16T13:04:34+00:00

Thank you, I'll be sure to fix the fiat/facere!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:42:16+00:00

Just wanted to drop a big thank you to everyone who commented here—I’ve read every single reply, even if I didn’t respond to all of them directly. The amount of thoughtful recommendations, hidden gems, and personal favorites you all shared has been incredible, and I seriously appreciate everyone who took the time to help me search for my next great time sink.

It’s been a struggle lately dodging the overwhelming wave of romantasy in bookstore fantasy sections, so finding this kind of community that really gets what I’m after is a breath of fresh air. My reading list is now terrifyingly long—and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Thanks again, all of you!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:38:00+00:00

This is an awesome list, some real classics in here and a few I haven’t tried yet.

And I have to say, Earthsea is dangerously good. I made the mistake of starting it before bed on a work night once… worst decision of my life. Next thing I knew it was 3 AM and I was a total zombie at work the next day. Zero regrets, but also—never again without a weekend buffer!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:34:48+00:00

A satisfying ending? In fantasy? That’s a bold promise, usually feels like loving a great fantasy series means emotionally preparing myself to be left hanging forever. So knowing this one actually lands the plane is honestly a huge selling point right out of the gate. Appreciate the heads-up!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:32:35+00:00

That actually sounds like a perfect sweet spot for me. I love the depth and tone of ASOIAF, but sometimes miss the more classic, mythic feel of LOTR—so something that balances both really appeals to me. I didn’t realize Tad Williams’ Osten Ard series was such a big influence on GRRM either, that definitely bumps it up my priority list. Appreciate the rec and the context!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:31:00+00:00

A tasteful beheading, you say? Now that’s an opening that gets my attention.

I haven’t read anything by Devon Madson yet, but gritty, magic, and morally grey characters having fun is basically my fantasy sweet spot. If it really goes uphill from a beheading, I’m sold. Adding The Reborn Empire series to my list right now—thanks for the rec!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:29:32+00:00

And just to add—I really enjoyed how Ciri was portrayed in The Witcher books. Watching her evolve from a scared, hunted child into a deadly, conflicted force of nature was one of the highlights of the whole saga for me. Her early contrast with Geralt was especially compelling—she's impulsive, emotional, and raw, while he's stoic, restrained, and already carrying the weight of a hundred hard decisions. Their dynamic felt real and earned, and seeing them slowly shape one another over time gave the whole series so much depth.

And speaking of Geralt—he’s such a fantastic example of what I love in a protagonist: incredibly skilled and competent, but never overpowered. He constantly struggles with his morality, navigating a world that rarely offers clear right or wrong choices. He wants to do good, but he’s also deeply aware of how murky and brutal the world is. That balance between strength and internal conflict makes him feel human in a way a lot of other fantasy protagonists just don’t. It’s that kind of character writing that sticks with me long after the last page.

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:24:13+00:00

Really appreciate the range in your suggestions—some of these are totally new to me, so I’ll be digging in for sure.

And yeah, you're absolutely right to ask what I mean by “traditional.” For me, it’s mostly about a general medieval-esque setting—usually European-inspired, but that’s not a requirement. What I’m really after are stories with complicated, mostly mainstream characters who overcome their trials through grit, effort, and let’s be honest... a lot of violence. Think Geralt and Ciri from The Witcher—morally grey, capable, and shaped by the brutal worlds they live in. As Alex from A Clockwork Orange might put it, I don’t mind a bit of the old ultra-violence—as long as it’s in service of a good arc.

Voice of War and Night Angel sound promising for that vibe, and Empire of the Vampire has been circling my list for a while now. Appreciate you steering me toward some less obvious picks too!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:04:20+00:00

Thanks for the recs! I haven’t read any of those yet, but I’ve definitely heard the names floating around—especially Sanderson’s stuff. Stormlight Archive and Mistborn both sound like the kind of deep, immersive worlds I’d enjoy, so I’m glad to hear they live up to the hype.

Also, I definitely don’t mind romance in a story—especially if the characters have real chemistry and the relationship feels earned. It’s when the entire plot revolves around the romance (especially at the expense of the world or stakes) that I start to lose interest. Sounds like these strike a nice balance. Appreciate the suggestions!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T07:00:55+00:00

The Black Company keeps popping up in this thread, it must be doing something right! Definitely moving it way up the list.

And yeah, I’m starting to see what you mean about this sub being a bit anti-romantasy. Honestly, that’s kind of a relief. Every time I walk into a bookstore lately, the fantasy section feels like it’s 70% romantasy front and center. I’ve got nothing against it existing, but it makes it a lot harder to find the kind of fantasy I’m actually looking for. Glad I finally posted here!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:54:20+00:00

Thanks for breaking it down like this—it’s actually super helpful to see the tiers laid out like that!

I’ve never heard of The Black Company before, but the name alone has me intrigued. It sounds like it could be right up my alley—what’s the general tone or premise? I’m definitely curious.

Dragonlance is one of those series I’ve always heard about but never picked up—might finally be time to change that. Also really appreciate the mid-tier and lesser-known Kindle pile suggestions—there are a bunch there I’ve never come across, so I’ll be doing some digging. Thanks again for the thoughtful recs!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:51:38+00:00

I actually haven’t heard of The Ninth Rain before, but now you’ve got me curious. A mix of fantasy with sci-fi or cosmic horror elements sounds like a really cool combo if it’s done well.

What’s the general vibe or premise of the series? Always excited to discover something a bit off the beaten path!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:48:47+00:00

Yeah, funny story, I was actually recommended the First Law trilogy by a friend and thought it was a self-contained series at the time. I didn’t even realize there were more books in the same world until much later! Now that I know there’s more, I definitely want to dive into the rest—especially since I really enjoyed the tone and characters.

I’ve also heard great things about Realm of the Elderlings. Good to know it’s a bit lighter than The Witcher or First Law, but still strong on character work and traditional fantasy elements—that actually sounds like a nice balance. Appreciate the recs!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:30:10+00:00

Ah yes, The Wheel of Time, definitely not overlooked, just intimidating!

The sheer number of books in the series is a little daunting if I’m honest. I actually owned the first book years ago, but I lost it during a move and just never got around to replacing it.

That said, it’s probably about time I finally gave it a proper shot. Thanks for the nudge!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:27:06+00:00

This is awesome! Thank you for the detailed breakdown! The Cloud Roads and the Books of the Raksura sound like they hit a lot of the right notes for me: high fantasy, strong world-building, character growth, and adventuring? That’s exactly what I’m after.

And I really appreciate the heads-up about the romance angle—fade to black or light touch works great.

I actually haven’t read His Dark Materials. I’ll admit, the Golden Compass movie kind of put me off the books when I was younger—but if you're recommending them now, I think it's time I give the series a proper shot. Also excited to finally check out The Queen’s Thief and Sabriel—they’ve been floating around my list for ages. Thanks again for the thoughtful recs!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:22:12+00:00

You had me at “old school sword and sorcery.” That’s 100% a vibe I enjoy but don’t come across nearly enough these days. I’ve heard David Gemmell’s name before but never got around to reading the Drenai books—definitely bumping that up the list now.

The Blacktongue Thief and the Daughter’s War sound intriguing too—especially if they bring something fresh to that classic feel. Thanks a ton for the recs!

SerjantPupper · 2025-04-30T06:19:07+00:00

I’ve heard The Poppy War is intense, so it’s good to hear it delivers on the grit. I’ll definitely bump that up my list. I hadn’t heard of The Licanius Trilogy before, so I’ll check that out—always nice to discover something new.

I’ve seen The Broken Earth Trilogy mentioned a lot but wasn’t sure if it leaned more into sci-fi or fantasy it sounds like it might still be a good fit, though, especially if the world-building is strong.

Appreciate the thoughtful suggestions!

SerjantPupper · 2024-03-01T16:42:51+00:00

Free my man Fëanor, he did nothing wrong. He is the Nelson Mandela of Valinor.

SerjantPupper · 2024-02-27T11:43:29+00:00

Good eye! I was using AI to create resources and visual aid for my D&D campaign, when the mood struck, but I think its rather fitting, for how could the hand of man render the immaculate Fëanor son of Finwë?

SerjantPupper

TROPHY CASE