[lukaspriest]

Hello all...

I consider myself fairly well read in the fantasy genre (Jordan, Martin, Hobb, Goodkind, Weis/Hickman, etc etc) and I'm looking for a particular kind of fantasy book. Namely, one filled with high romance.

I just finished Wizard's First Rule for the second time last night, and thats about as good as Ive seen. The love story between Richard and Kahlan was wonderful - totally heart-wrenching as you learned more and more about them. The whole concept of forbidden love was quite powerful and hit me hard; tugged at those heart strings, y'know?

Well, having read the Sword of Truth novels, I am turning to you guys to help me figure out what to read next. I'm looking for a fantasy (I'm not a big SciFi fan...) book with an awesome love story in it. I'm looking for something that someone could really relate too...[a while ago someone suggested that I read Clive Barker's Imagica...the back cover mentioned something regarding "forbidden passion" so I thought I would give it a try...I was terribly disappointed to read about a bunch of immoral, utterly sexually perverse characters having relations with hermaphrodites, etc.]

Any suggestions on a new book/series you could recomment would be met with the utmost appreciation. Thanks for your input and for checking out this thread!

[Qin]

The love story between Richard and Kahlan was wonderful - totally heart-wrenching as you learned more and more about them. The whole concept of forbidden love was quite powerful and hit me hard; tugged at those heart strings, y'know?

Heart-wrenching? BWUAHAHAHAHAHAH! *Falls over laughing*

Heh. Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. The romance between Richard and Kahlan was completely hollow and contrived. But then, that's Goodkind for you.


If it is romance ye seek, please make it a point to seek out Guy Gavriel Kay's Sarantium Mosaic. The character drama there extends far beyond the pedantic and cliched romance so many other novels sport these days.

But don't stop there. You can do even better: The Odyssey by Homer. Throughout the novel, all Ulysses wishes to do is reach his home in Ithaca to see his wife and son. The way the entire novel is structured makes this all the more endearing due to what he has to suffer at the hands of Poseidon and Calypso.

[Mithfânion]

ULysses? James Joyce and Homer were contemporaries? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Bond]

You thought Richard and Kahlan was good? Ha!
If you want a better example of a fun clichéd love you hate you romance of that sort try The Rose of the Prophet Trilogy by Weis and Hickman. If I recall their names correctly Khardan and Zorah were far more funny and at odds with each other and they had a sidekick to boot.

I also agree with Qin when he says that Guy Gavriel Kay does the romantic thing pretty well too though his are imbued with a touch more drama and somewhat less frolicking in nature as the above.

Oh Mithfanion please, Ulysses (a.k.a. Odysseus) originally hails from Ithaca and I'm not talking New York. Methinks you know but still....

[JohnH]

I have to join the ranks here on Richard and Kahlan. If this is what you consider the apex of romantic plotting, I probably amnot the best person to give advice on what to read next. But I will anyhow.

Melanie Rawn writes some rathergood love stories. Of course they don't always end up living happily ever after (or in the Richard/ Kahlan case, until the next book comes out).

Jacqueline Carey portrays an interesting love story that is a bit bittersweet in Kushiel's Dart. Butthis storyline is far from over so I am not sure if it will turn out as cozily as Richard and Kahlan the super sex-set always do. Somehow I do not think that Carey will end up as trite as Goodkind in her treatment of these particular characters.

One love story that you might like is the one in Anne Bishop's Jewels trilogy. This think borders on early teen soft porn and the love story should be in a police evidence room filed under 'blunt object'. Though Bishop is rather gleefully explicit, much in the way that a seven year old is upon finding out what the words penis and vagina mean. So if you find Barker to be woefully lacking in good taste by not keeping his nipple licking between the handsome hero every woman wants and the beautiful woman who was strong and able until she got a gander at the wonderful Richard (and now is a pathetic little rag who only rises to the occasion when the chance to jump her man's bones arrives -- or a chance to supposedly end all chances of their endless love by just not telling him what is going on.... geesh!). You might want to skip Bishop. She seems to find herself incredibly clever at being able to incoporate teh male sexual anatomy into her magic system. But only in a way that seems half-teen fantasy and half-gimmick.

[Nimea]

What about Sharon Shinn's novels? I enjoy them very much, easy reading and wonderful romance.
Or Freda Warrington's Blackbird-Cycle. Out of print, unfortunately, at least in my country.

Even Janny Wurts has heart-rending love stories - whatever you say about her style of writing. (My curiosity forces me to read on and on, even though I doubt an end is in sight before I turn 30. Ha, I am not going to tell you my age!)

[Warewolf]

Guess I'm in the minority here...I also like the romance between Richard and Kahlan. Of course, I love Goodkind's work, so...

I'll have to second JohnH's recommendation for Rawn's stuff. Relationships play a big role in her stories. Specifically, the first Dragon Prince trilogy and especially the second book in her Exiles trilogy, The Mageborn Traitor (read the first book first, of course http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif )

Can't really think of anything else off the top of my head, though...

[jbcohen]

Goodkind does not get any respect on this forum these days, eventhough he is a fine writer. The problem is that he is not defined as a romatic fantasy author. Oddly enough there is such a thing. I saw a listing for romantic fantasy books somewhere, I will write in again with the URL for the web site if and when I find it again.

Romantic fantasy litterature tends to be a bit like romance litterature except that there is bit of fantasy sprinkled in there. Sort of like a Danielle Steel with a few dragons and elves walking around. They can also be a clasaic romance novel between eleves or Kender.

[Giarc]

Don't mind the noisy rabble, Lukaspriest. I too enjoyed the romance aspect of Goodkind's work. I guess some folks here have forgotten the concept of being polite http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/frown.gif

However, don't let their uncouth manner deter you from the authors they are recommending. I can vouch for Guy Gavriel Kay's work, and it really is a step beyond Goodkind. Sailing to Sarantium (and the sequel Lord of Emporers) is great. You might like the Song for Arbonne, since the romance aspect is fairly central to the plot (and hides a twist). Tigana and the Lions of Al Rassan are also fantastic works that include strong romantic aspects, although not as central to the plot as Song for Arbonne. However, if you're looking for explicit scenes you might be better advised to look elsewhere.

Cheers,
Craig

[Bond]

Giarc, methinks there is a difference between holding a contrary opinion and expressing it with a little gusto and being impolite. One of the great joys of being among friends I would think is the freedom one feels in being able to express one's thoughts without too much inhibition. One should be as free to swoon over Richard and Kahlan as to hold it in contempt. If one holds strong justified convictions on the matter, I do not see how disagreement from another quarter is going to change one's views that easily. Moreover I see no overt sign of malicious intimidation going on. Actually I see people giving recommendations on a matter that was solicited and the reaction towards Richard and Kahlan can be considered a general barometer of relative merit the one giving a recommendation feels his/her suggestion has in relation to the example of Richard and Kahlan. Anyway if this is upsetting lukaspriest in some way I'm sure he would be able to inform us or give us a clue as to how he might be feeling. It is my view one could take umbrage more easily at the inference that one is being deliberately rude than the charge that one is being overenthusiastic.