adult fantasy starting with young protagonists

[chuck1945]

Hey, I'm looking for some fantasy series that ideally start off with youngish protagonists but are aimed at adult readers (i.e. not Harry Potter). Solid prose and characters are also desirable. Some examples I've read in approximately descending order of relevance follow:

The Magicians - Grossman
Broken Empire - Lawrence
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn - Williams
Demon Cycle - Brett
Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne - Stavely
Kingkiller - Rothfuss
Shadowmarch - Williams
Night Angel - Weeks
A Raven's Shadow - Ryan
Lightbringer - Weeks
Dagger and Coin - Abraham
Long Price Quarter - Abraham
Farseer - Hobb
A Man of His Word - Duncan
Prince of Nothing - Bakker
The Night Circus - Morgenstern
The Troupe - Bennett
First Law - Abercrombie
Mistborn - Sanderson
Codex Alera - Butcher
Song of Ice and Fire - Martin
Way of Kings - Sanderson (pretty much all Sanderson stuff I'm at least familiar with)
Lyonesse - Vance
Acacia - Durham
His Dark Materials - Pullman (younger than ideal)
Earthsea - La Guin
Magician: Apprentice - Feist

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Kingsman]

In all seriousness, Walk into a bookstore with a fantasy/scifi section, close your eyes and spin around a few times then stick your hand out and point with your finger. Whatever it's pointing at will most like match what your looking for.

 

[chuck1945]

Yeah, I realize what I described was purposefully broad and applies to most fantasy. I didn't want to be too limiting in regard to plot or tone, because I am more concerned with the quality of writing. The last half dozen or so series I have recently started have been of lower quality than most of those listed above, and I was hoping to get some suggestions so I wouldn't have to wade through as many sub par books.

 

[Kingsman]

The last half dozen or so series I have recently started have been of lower quality than most of those listed above, and I was hoping to get some suggestions so I wouldn't have to wade through as many sub par books.

Listing the subpar series you didn't like might be more helpful than the list of what you liked given the broadness of your request.

 

[chuck1945]

I was underehelmed by:
The Bakers Boy - Jones
Lies of Locke Lamora - Lynch
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - Jemisin
Enchantress - Maxwell
Magic of Recluse - Modesitt
Fionovar Tapestry - Kay
Winterbirth - Ruckley
Jackal of Nar - Marco
Gardens of the Moon I couldn't really get into

 

[Kingsman]

Well that didn't help much as both lists are quite diverse.

The most popular series that arn't on either list that meets you young protaganist critea, would be:

Pawn of Prophecy(The Belgariad) - David Eddings
Eye of The World(Wheel of Time) - Robert Jordan
The Sword of Shannara(Shannara) - Terry Brooks
Wizards First Rule(Sword of Truth) - Terry Goodkind

Also as you enjoyed Williams, you should try his Otherland books which are a fantasy/scifi hybrid.

 

[chuck1945]

Thanks for the suggestions! A couple of those I've read (Belgariard and Sword of Truth), but I'll have to give Shannara and Otherland a shot. Wheel of time seems like a lot, and so much of what I've read about it appears to be negative.

I know I'm all over the place with books I do and don't like. I'm not too selective regarding plot, tone, length, etc., but there have to be a least a couple characters who are well written and fun to pull for. It's satisfying to watch characters grow up, especially when they are changing in some way more than gaining a skill, getting stronger, etc. That being said, the overall quality of the writing matters to me too. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is similar to The Bakers Boy in plot and character types, but Williams is a much, much better writer than Jones in my opinion, which is the primary reason I loved the first series and disliked the second. I know the breadth of the request and relative subjectiveness of taste makes it more difficult to make suggestions, but I appreciate your taking the time to answer with some.