i love mythology and fairy tale retellings, especially when its historically accurate but also when tropes are turned on their heads too. so many more to work on. love ur videos! i read a ya standaloe about a half-angel half-devil girl but dont remember the name of it even though i loved it.
Ok, I just watched Regan's video and she talked about The Witch's Heart and then watched yours right after... Obviously I need to move that book up my list, lol.
'To Ride Hell's Chasm ' by Janny Wurts. Probably my favourite standalone fantasy ever. It starts off as a court intrigue and explodes into action adventure half way through. I loved it. The protagonist is a partially lame ex soilder. Its refreshing to see someone mature and experiencdd as a protagonist. Ohand the horses they use to travel are a massive part of the story and all have their own personalities that the characters have to work around. The author k kws her stuff about horses and it shows. The book has themes of autonomy, responsibility and prejudice. The action begins by the Princess dissappearing on the evening of her engagement. The author turns fantasy cliches on their head for a very satisfying story.
Happy New Year Elliot!!! Great video as always :) Small Favors sounds good lol I might check that out! I actually read four fantasy standalones last year that were definitely not marketed towards me lol but I enjoyed them anyway...most likely because I had low expectations going into all of them if I'm being honest lol Anyway, you've probably heard of these but In case you haven't I will pitch them too you since you might like them too -Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (a whodunit murder mystery that takes place in a mobile city of circus freaks with cool powers) -Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas (tbh although it takes place in a secondary world, this actually does not feature magic lol and even the science is real world science so cannot even be called science fiction lol its just a story about a girl who unexpectedly becomes queen in a secondary world similar to but not the same as real world lol but feels like YA fantasy so close enough I guess) -The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk (men can learn magic but women can't because nobody understands magic system well enough to keep malevolent spirits from attacking female magic users when they are pregnant) -The Pharaoh and the Librarian by Amber Polo (Cleopatra doesn't die but comes to America to flee the Romans, and although this is historical in our real world, this is fantasy because the story assumes mythical gods and creatures are real) Actually, now that I think about it, I know you've heard of at least one of them (Long May She Reign) because I read it based on your recommendation from a video you did forever ago lol but I'll include anyway but I spend way too much time typing this out and I don't feel like deleting my efforts :3
I finnished Little Thieves last week and I adored it! I love heist plotlines in fantasy but they have to be well done or I'll hate the book, and this one did it so well according to me. Vanya is a great protagonist and all the rest of characters were also really good and well fleshed. The plot though is what sold it to me, a heist plus a curse plus a deadline, the tension was delightful. And I just started Small Favors today, I'm listneing it on audio and the narrator does great to have a creepines in the background since the beginning.
I read Small Favors and very much liked it. It’s unsettling and suspenseful, very gripping and intriguing. Though, it did get a little slow in the middle but I’m glad I pushed through to the end. I really want to read House of Hallow, that cover 😍
Some of those covers are gorgeous 😍 I need The Witches Heart on my shelf and... I'm curious about the plants--growing where they shouldn't--horror writing now 😳 thanks as always 🙂
The Witch's Heart is my favorite new release of the year. I've said it before, but if you like that one I think you'll love the Goddess of Nothing At All, which follows the other wife of Loki (it's the beginning of a Norse myth retelling duology). the author of Ariadne is coming out with another Greek myth retelling, Elektra!
Is Little Theives a standalone. It says #1 on goodreads. I’ve been putting off reading it because I thought it was a part of a series but if it is standalone I might read it immediately!
I've been finding quite a few fantasy standalone books this year that I have really been enjoying. I agree that there are a lot of them but they aren't as popular as series I think.
In the ravenous dark by a.m Strickland is a great standalone fantasy read it came out in june I absolutely love the character rovan plus it's main character is a pansexual blood mage 🤔🙂🥰😍🌈
I cant remember if you reviewed it already or not, but Madeline Miller’s “Circe” and “Song of Achilles” are both superior modernisations compared to Ariande, and are totally worth a look, especially Circe.
It might be one of those that you can read as a stand-alone and the sequel is with different characters or not necessary to plot, like you don’t NEED to read it.. but I’m not sure cuz I haven’t read the first book lol
i love mythology and fairy tale retellings, especially when its historically accurate but also when tropes are turned on their heads too. so many more to work on. love ur videos! i read a ya standaloe about a half-angel half-devil girl but dont remember the name of it even though i loved it.
elantris / warbreaker were fun, im not sure if they are considered standalones since Brandon wants to continue them
Those are amazing. Standalones still, tho.
They can be read as standalones, and rn they are standalones because the sequels haven't been released and probably won't be released for a while.
@@Kiki-oo3bw idk knowing Sanderson, he'll probably write the sequels in a couple months if he wants to
With warbreaker, I believe it will not so much be a sequel, but more of a follow up in the same world.
They’re still considered standalones, and they wrap up quite nicely so it doesn’t feel like you need to read the next book to get a full story
Love love love your sweater!
I really like the cover of house of hollows
Looks very intriguing
I love that sweater ❤
Ok, I just watched Regan's video and she talked about The Witch's Heart and then watched yours right after... Obviously I need to move that book up my list, lol.
'To Ride Hell's Chasm ' by Janny Wurts. Probably my favourite standalone fantasy ever. It starts off as a court intrigue and explodes into action adventure half way through. I loved it. The protagonist is a partially lame ex soilder. Its refreshing to see someone mature and experiencdd as a protagonist. Ohand the horses they use to travel are a massive part of the story and all have their own personalities that the characters have to work around. The author k kws her stuff about horses and it shows. The book has themes of autonomy, responsibility and prejudice. The action begins by the Princess dissappearing on the evening of her engagement. The author turns fantasy cliches on their head for a very satisfying story.
Happy New Year Elliot!!! Great video as always :) Small Favors sounds good lol I might check that out!
I actually read four fantasy standalones last year that were definitely not marketed towards me lol but I enjoyed them anyway...most likely because I had low expectations going into all of them if I'm being honest lol Anyway, you've probably heard of these but In case you haven't I will pitch them too you since you might like them too
-Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (a whodunit murder mystery that takes place in a mobile city of circus freaks with cool powers)
-Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas (tbh although it takes place in a secondary world, this actually does not feature magic lol and even the science is real world science so cannot even be called science fiction lol its just a story about a girl who unexpectedly becomes queen in a secondary world similar to but not the same as real world lol but feels like YA fantasy so close enough I guess)
-The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk (men can learn magic but women can't because nobody understands magic system well enough to keep malevolent spirits from attacking female magic users when they are pregnant)
-The Pharaoh and the Librarian by Amber Polo (Cleopatra doesn't die but comes to America to flee the Romans, and although this is historical in our real world, this is fantasy because the story assumes mythical gods and creatures are real)
Actually, now that I think about it, I know you've heard of at least one of them (Long May She Reign) because I read it based on your recommendation from a video you did forever ago lol but I'll include anyway but I spend way too much time typing this out and I don't feel like deleting my efforts :3
Great list - thanks Elliot! Have you read Sawkill Girls? I’d recommend that one for fantasy horror.
Awesome video! I love Fantasy!
I really want to try Small Favors but that cover deceived me for the longest time!
I'm also hoping I enjoy Ariadne.
To me, Small Favors felt like a light mixture of Annihilation and Needful Things 😊
I finnished Little Thieves last week and I adored it!
I love heist plotlines in fantasy but they have to be well done or I'll hate the book, and this one did it so well according to me. Vanya is a great protagonist and all the rest of characters were also really good and well fleshed. The plot though is what sold it to me, a heist plus a curse plus a deadline, the tension was delightful.
And I just started Small Favors today, I'm listneing it on audio and the narrator does great to have a creepines in the background since the beginning.
❤️❤️❤️ happy new year, just the video I was needing :)
Yay, love this type of videos! Thanks 🥰🥰
I read Small Favors and very much liked it. It’s unsettling and suspenseful, very gripping and intriguing. Though, it did get a little slow in the middle but I’m glad I pushed through to the end. I really want to read House of Hallow, that cover 😍
A fantasy standalone that I heard very good things about is "middlegame"
I haven't read it yet but it's in my plans for this year
That’s actually the first book in a series (assuming you mean Middlegame by Seanan McGuire). Book 2 comes out in a 5 months
yay i’m early! happy new year and it’s so nice to get recommendations from you ♥️
Small favors and little thieves are both on my TBR!
Some of those covers are gorgeous 😍 I need The Witches Heart on my shelf and... I'm curious about the plants--growing where they shouldn't--horror writing now 😳 thanks as always 🙂
The Witch's Heart is my favorite new release of the year. I've said it before, but if you like that one I think you'll love the Goddess of Nothing At All, which follows the other wife of Loki (it's the beginning of a Norse myth retelling duology).
the author of Ariadne is coming out with another Greek myth retelling, Elektra!
Is Little Theives a standalone. It says #1 on goodreads. I’ve been putting off reading it because I thought it was a part of a series but if it is standalone I might read it immediately!
I love your recommendation videos. I always find gems.
Also I had no idea that small favors was a dark book. NOW I’m interested
Just filmed a 5 star prediction video and I have the witch’s heart on there
I liked David Eddings' Retina Song. It was published in late 80s/early 90s.
I’m reading House of Hollow so enjoying it.
Tad Williams's War of the Flowers is an excellent standalone fantasy novel!
I really liked Small Favors and I agree, it's definitely spooky!
A really interesting fantasy standalone I read recently was Temper by Nicky Drayden. Really weird at times but for me super entertaining.
Love this vid !
*adds the 4 books I didn't read from this list to my Amazon wishlist for future reference
loved this, are you on audea? was trying to find some of your content to listen to there!
I've been finding quite a few fantasy standalone books this year that I have really been enjoying. I agree that there are a lot of them but they aren't as popular as series I think.
I got Little Thieves in an Illumicrate box and I'm so excited to read it, it sounds so good! :)
I'm planning on reading ariadne in February I did enjoy warbreaker
I really want to read House of Hallow.
Can you make a book couple tier list
Were these all YA novels?
The Tower of Fear by Glen Cook
In the ravenous dark by a.m Strickland is a great standalone fantasy read it came out in june I absolutely love the character rovan plus it's main character is a pansexual blood mage 🤔🙂🥰😍🌈
I cant remember if you reviewed it already or not, but Madeline Miller’s “Circe” and “Song of Achilles” are both superior modernisations compared to Ariande, and are totally worth a look, especially Circe.
are you sure little thieves is a standalone? goodreads said it will have a sequel
It might be one of those that you can read as a stand-alone and the sequel is with different characters or not necessary to plot, like you don’t NEED to read it.. but I’m not sure cuz I haven’t read the first book lol
♥️♥️♥️
I need to read more fantasy horror. 🤔
Hahaha House of Hollow is definitely creepy
YEEESS
Small Favors sounds like the movie “The Village”
I agree! It has a similar feel, though the reveals are very different :)
The part on Ariadne really didn’t sell me at all. Hahah
Ugh!! the whole plant thing creeps me out so much *gag*! The cover bothers me