Kaffe · a free reading list
Books like The Witcher
Monster-filled worlds, weary heroes and dark humour.
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Retired mercenaries get the band back together for one last job. Funny, monster-filled and warm.
+ Engaging, funny and emotionally rewarding; plays with fantasy tropes like an RPG come to life.
− One reviewer found the pop-culture references and childish antics tiring. (summed up from Wikipedia (reception))The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
A rogue's journey through a monster-ridden land, with a great voice and dark wit.
+ Packed with magic, mayhem and mischief, with an artfully drawn world and characters.
− The trust between the two leads grows implausibly fast; dense going at times. (summed up from Publishers Weekly)The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French
Half-orc riders patrol a dangerous frontier. Crude, violent and fun.
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
A standalone revenge story, morally grey like Geralt's world.
+ A skilfully crafted, fiendishly inventive revenge story with pitch-black humour.
− Blood-drenched, with appallingly vivid combat. (summed up from Publishers Weekly)Legend by David Gemmell
An aging warrior makes a last stand. Classic heroic fantasy about duty and doing the right thing.
+ Still epic, fun and emotional on reread, with strong camaraderie in the last stand and a great villain in Ulric.
− Some plot threads fall short, including a convenient final battle and an abrupt ending. (summed up from The Fantasy Review)
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