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The Goblin Emperor

The funny thing about this book is that the first time I read it, I was not entirely sure if I liked it or not. But it stuck with me, and when I went back to it I realized what an extraordinary achievement it is. Now it’s one of my all-time favorites.

Half-goblin Maia, a rejected son of the Emperor from one of his lesser wives, becomes Emperor when all of his senior male relatives are wiped out in an airship crash. Maia is a thoroughly good (but not stupid) person trying to find his footing in a strange world. It’s such a pleasure to spend time with him as he navigates the intrigues of the elven court.

(Be sure to read the end notes about how the names work first! It will save your life.)

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Complete With Shipwreck

Set in a semi-democratic society inspired by the Iroquois Confederacy, this book breaks standard fantasy assumptions about the need for kings and queens.

The main character Nuho is a magician, warrior, and front man for his small village. Unfortunately for him, his estranged sister is the new leader of the regional council. As much as he’d love to avoid her, they need each other politically–especially when disasters start to befall their allies.

With a dry sense of humor, honorable characters being forced to face past betrayals, gravity-defying martial arts fights, and a very, very slow-burn no-spice romance between Nuho and his best friend, this book is perfect for anyone who wants an epic feel but doesn’t want to read six books to find out the ending.

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The Sword of Kaigen

This book has some of the best fight scenes I’ve ever read. I was not surprised to learn that the author is a martial arts teacher! In the hands of a lesser writer, the large amount of sword-and-magic action could be tedious, but in Wang’s hands you can visualize the snow and blood with crystal clarity.

Surprisingly for such an action-packed book, at heart it’s about the internal journey of Matsuda Misaki, a middle-aged mother who used to be a vigilante fighter, as she comes to grip with the choices she’s made and the life she’s found herself in. The duel in which she kicks the crap out of her infuriating husband is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever read. (Spoilers—but also chef’s kiss.)

Don’t miss this book, especially if you love classic samurai films as well as fantasy novels. (Given the map in the front, this book is maybe alternate history rather than high fantasy? But let’s not dwell on that.)

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The Curse of Chalion

A novel of court intrigue told by a man who has accidentally become a saint. It is a great book—not great in the sense of “wow what fun” but in the sense that it will still be read in a hundred years as part of the fantasy canon.

To confess, I was mildly disappointed while reading the first 175 pages. Not that they were boring (I doubt Bujold is capable of being boring) but that they were frustrating, because the main character had almost no agency. Then it gets rolling, and man, it really rolls.

Of course, given that Cazaril is an accidental saint, the entire book is an explicit exploration of agency and submission to the gods. The way it’s handled is—eventually—deeply interesting and satisfying. If you read fantasy, you should read it.

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Wheel of the Infinite

Back before Martha Wells hit it big with her Murderbot novellas, she wrote excellent, thoughtful high fantasy.

Wheel of the Infinite is set in a Tibetan Buddhism-inspired world with magic based on sand mandalas. It follows Maskelle, a middle-aged heroine with a past, as she attempts to…you know, save the world. Just a little something!

Wonderful worldbuilding and wonderful characters make this an immensely satisfying standalone fantasy that should be more widely appreciated.