looking for Epic/Medieval fantasy without a crapload of main characters!

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Dreamheart

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May 17, 2014
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I have gotten back into medieval fantasy from rereading Robin Hobb's FitzChivalry Farseer series so I could read Fool's Assassin. But now I can't find anything similar. I want a series where I don't have to focus on a ton of characters switching back and forth. I want to be able to really connect with a single main character. First person would be good, but third would be okay too as long as they stick with one character.
 
Bloodsong by Anthony Ryan would be perfect. It is a single POV narrative. The sequel, Tower Lord, just came out, and it is still smaller in scope like what you wanted but it has four POV characters.
 
Pretty much anything written by Brandon Sanderson will work. You may also want to try out a new book on the scene which I am currently reading: Circle of Reign by Jacob Cooper. I find it to be a good mix of pov's and main characters that makes it very easy to keep track of.
 
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. Main character plus maybe 3 other POVs.
 
Mark Lawrence writes in first person. Joe Abercrombie's recent Half a King is single POV, and his other stuff doesn't have tons of characters.

Neither of them are much like Hobb though (at all!) so it depends if you're looking for her style as well or just a small cast of characters.
 
Definitely agree to both Codex Alera and Stormlight Archives. Two of the most solid series I've ever read. I'd rank Stormlight Archives as the more epic, but Codex Alera has the benefit of already being completed, which is really nice.
 
Have yet to read Hobb but from what I know chances are big that you might enjoy Name of the Wind by Rothfuss.
 
Dreamheart said:
I have gotten back into medieval fantasy from rereading Robin Hobb's FitzChivalry Farseer series so I could read Fool's Assassin. But now I can't find anything similar. I want a series where I don't have to focus on a ton of characters switching back and forth. I want to be able to really connect with a single main character. First person would be good, but third would be okay too as long as they stick with one character.
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Based on your criteria, I would recommend the Mageborn series by Michael Manning. It is literally the main character recounting his life.
 
Blood song by anthony ryan as previously mentioned, also the name of the wind by patrick rothfuss.

Hobbs farseer is my favorite series and these are the only books/series I have found so far that come close! read both you wont regret it.
 
I wasn't a big fan of bloodsong, but I recently read Peter V. Brett's demon cycle and really liked it
 
I think another reason I really liked the demon cycle is that the main character was very powerful too. Know of any like that?
 
Khale said:
Pretty much anything written by Brandon Sanderson will work. You may also want to try out a new book on the scene which I am currently reading: Circle of Reign by Jacob Cooper. I find it to be a good mix of pov's and main characters that makes it very easy to keep track of.
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My book (Circle of Reign) does not have a lot of main characters, true, but there are many POVs. Probably not as much as ASOIAF, for sure, but more than Stormlight Archives unless you count the Interludes (which I guess you would). I loved how Sanderson structured those books, allowing you to meet many characters without interrupting the main narrative. I haven't seen that done before, but maybe it has been.

I'm also enjoying Michael Sullivan's Riyria series currently.
 
Dreamheart said:
I have gotten back into medieval fantasy from rereading Robin Hobb's FitzChivalry Farseer series so I could read Fool's Assassin. But now I can't find anything similar. I want a series where I don't have to focus on a ton of characters switching back and forth. I want to be able to really connect with a single main character. First person would be good, but third would be okay too as long as they stick with one character.
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Recommendations

  • Rift War Saga - Raymond E Feist
    Pug and Thomas are the main 2 characters. Most of the focus is on Pug.
    Read at least the first book(Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master), and finish the Saga. Nobody would fault you to stop there.

  • King Killer Chronicles - Patrick Rothfuss
    One of the best and most popular new up and coming writers. Only 2 books have been finished, but it’s worth the read. Kvothe telling the story of his life. So just one POV.

  • Prince of Nothing - R. Scott Bakker
    Another dark, deep, philosophical reads similar to Malazan. But that’s pretty much where it ends. This is not nearly as confusing. Plot lines are linear. It’s a great series. It is part of the series “The Second Apocalypse”. And another trilogy “Aspect-Emperor” follows this one. There are really only 3 POV characters. But mostly each character is talking about the main character(Kellus), and showing what happened from their POV.

  • Acts of Caine - Mathew Stover
    Great read. The first book, Heroes Die, is probably the best single book I’ve read. Unfortunately the rest don’t quit live up, but they are still as good. One issue is that each book(4book series) feels completely different than the last. A total different style. It works though, and is worth your time. The book is really all about Caine. You might get a different POV from time to time, but it's called the "Acts of Caine" for a reason.

  • Night Angel Trilogy - Brent Weeks
    [*] Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
    I am going to package these both together. Action packed, light, fun read. Nothing too crazy with plots, prose, or intellectual writing. Just a fun light action packed read. Both are introductions to 2 of the best new authors in the genre! Both are reletively the same when it comes to POV and characters. You almost exclusively follow one person.
 
There are so many... but I'll just stick to the 'medieval' part of your question.

The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone by Greg Keyes.

Not too many characters if you don't like juggling that kind of complexity. Solid, tight, four-book series.
 
AuthorJacobCoop said:
My book (Circle of Reign) does not have a lot of main characters, true, but there are many POVs. Probably not as much as ASOIAF, for sure, but more than Stormlight Archives unless you count the Interludes (which I guess you would). I loved how Sanderson structured those books, allowing you to meet many characters without interrupting the main narrative. I haven't seen that done before, but maybe it has been.

I'm also enjoying Michael Sullivan's Riyria series currently.
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Came to post this; Riyria is great. The two prologue books are amazing as well.
 
Medieval type feel? I always enjoyed Katherine Kurtz's Deryni chronicles
 
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