More like Introduction (Thieves' World)

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World of Ice and FireUniverse
universe19 books1980
Epic fantasy, about war.
“Winter is coming, and the men who forget it die first.”
from the catalogue
Start with A Game of Thrones →
includes A Song of Ice and Fire, Targaryen History
The Circle of the WorldUniverse
universe29 books2006
Grimdark.
“What sets it apart is the honesty of its cynicism — close, sardonic points of view, gallows humour, and a flat refusal to let anyone stay clean.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Blade Itself →
includes The First Law Trilogy, The Age of Madness
TiganaNovel
Guy Gavriel Kaystandalone novel1990
Epic fantasy and historical fantasy, about rebellion and revolution and identity.
The Dark Star TrilogySeries
series2 books2019
Mythic fantasy.
“Marlon James's Dark Star Trilogy opens with Black Leopard, Red Wolf, in which a mercenary tracker is hired to find a missing boy and is drawn into a war between kingdoms across a continent built from African history and mythology.”
from the catalogue
Start with Black Leopard, Red Wolf →
Witches Steeped in GoldSeries
series2 books2021
Dark fantasy, about witches and enemies to lovers.
Start with Witches Steeped in Gold →
MalazanUniverse
universe36 books1999
Epic fantasy, about war.
“Pity the historian who tries to map this world; pity more the god who thinks he rules it.”
from the catalogue
Start with Gardens of the Moon →
includes The Kharkanas Trilogy, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Night of Knives, Path to Ascendancy, Witness Trilogy