Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Hi all,
I am looking for a great fantasy read that is about witches or features witchcraft in a prominent way BUT doesn't focus heavily on romance, isn't downright horror or urban fantasy and most importantly, isn't YA .
Can anyone recommend such a book or series to me?
Your suggestions are much appreciated.
Dani

PS. I hope I am putting this topic where it belongs..

Ohhh! Have you read any of Terry Brooks? He's great! His stuff falls into your requirements!!
As far as other witchy books? Lovecraft is always a good classic dark magic, horror go to. Personally, I haven't found his stuff too horror unlike Stephen King. Terry Goodkind, also is like Terry Brooks.
Hope I helped!

Of course I have heard of both Terry's but never tried neither of them so I'll be sure to check them out.
Thanks Patrick!

Have you tried the series "Women of the Underworld" by Kelley Armstrong? the first couple are about the werewolves, but after that it is mostly about witches and other paranormals....

Corrag

The Burning Times

Dani....Corrag is such a beautiful book.
I have read it 4 times !
It is not only "witchy" but takes place in the hills of Scotland!
Really good book....some romance, but not much...I am not a big romance fan lol

Choko wrote: "Have you tried the series "Women of the Underworld" by Kelley Armstrong? the first couple are about the werewolves, but after that it is mostly about witches and other paranormals...."

Thanks so much for your suggestion Choko. I'm not a big fan of werewolves but nevertheless it sounds intriguing so I'll add it to the pile.

Emelia wrote: "Corrag
The Burning Times
Dani....Corrag is such a beautiful book.
I have read it 4 times !
It is not only "witchy" but takes place in the hills of Scotland!
Really g..."

Gee, these two sound right up my alley, thanks so much Emilia.
And what's funny is that I own a book by Jeanne Kalogridis that's just historical fiction. I had no idea she had also written stuff that's more in the fantasy/paranormal genre.

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison is an UF series about a witch called Rachel Morgan and her adventures. The series goes into loads of detail about how she actually does magic so you might like it.

My non UF recommendation are the Witches books in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

Charlie wrote: "The Hollows series by Kim Harrison is an UF series about a witch called Rachel Morgan and her adventures. The series goes into loads of detail about how she actually does magic so you might like it..."

Thanks for your suggestions Charlie but I actually read the first books in both these series and although I liked them, I didn't like them enough to want to continue the series.
I guess I'm not that easy to please...... *hangs her head in shame*

Dani wrote: "Hi all,
I am looking for a great fantasy read that is about witches or features witchcraft in a prominent way BUT doesn't focus heavily on romance, isn't downright horror or urban fantasy and most..."

The Witch books from Discworld series, starting from: Equal Rites.

Also Anne Rice's Witch books are pretty good. The Witching Hour

If you are okay with short stories/novelettes, you should check this Hugo winner last year: The Tomato Thief by Ursula Vernon (can be read free here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/the-tom...)

Silvana wrote: "Dani wrote: "Hi all,
I am looking for a great fantasy read that is about witches or features witchcraft in a prominent way BUT doesn't focus heavily on romance, isn't downright horror or urban fant..."

Thanks Silvana! I'll read that this weekend for sure!
Anne Rice I'll also check out.
Equal Rites I've read but I didn't like it much.

I read the Mayfair Witches back in the 90's and thought it was terrific. Book one is the best of the three but all of them are good.

The Witching Hour

Silvana wrote: "Also Anne Rice's Witch books are pretty good. The Witching Hour
."

Great series.

Scott wrote: "I read the Mayfair Witches back in the 90's and thought it was terrific. Book one is the best of the three but all of them are good.

The Witching Hour"

Thanks Scott. And I here I was thinking she only wrote about vampires.

Yeah... I was not too impressed with the Witch arc of Discworld either... even though many people are so enamoured with Granny Weatherwax and her lot.

Scott, did you read Blackwood Farm? I was hesitating since I just don't want vampires got mixed with witches since they best both stand on their own. I stopped at Taltos, I think.

Silvana wrote: "Yeah... I was not too impressed with the Witch arc of Discworld either... even though many people are so enamoured with Granny Weatherwax and her lot.?

Well. I did like Granny Weatherwax and Esk and I loved the premise of the story but then everything went in a complete different direction and on top of that the humour felt forced i.e. just didn't do it for me so that pretty much sealed the deal of discontinuing the series.

Regarding Discworld, I would suggest trying out either Carpe Jugulum or Lords and Ladies, since I think those are the two with more character focus and better arcs. That said, Discworld witchery is really more applied psychology than magic...

Clean Sweep might work? There's more of a romance focus in there than I like, but the first book is only slightly edged with romance so yay?

I'm seconding the Women of the Otherworld books, especially the Paige arc, Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic.

The Seventh Bride has some witchy elements. And it's not a romance.

Everything else that comes to my mind seems to be YA or nonexistant. Yikes. I really need to read more witchy books.

Dani wrote: "Hi all,
I am looking for a great fantasy read that is about witches or features witchcraft in a prominent way BUT doesn't focus heavily on romance, isn't downright horror or urban fantasy and most..."

Dani,

Try The Witches of Eileanan.
Not YA. Epic fantasy. Has dragons too. Ive only read the first but it was good!

Have you read the Dresden Files? Definitely UF, but hilarious! Storm Front The MC is a male, but definitely witch like with the mixing of potions and spells and dealing with the supernatural.

Dani wrote: "
Gee, these two sound right up my alley, thanks so much Emilia.
And what's funny is that I own a book by Jeanne Kalogridis that's just historical fiction. I had no idea she had also written stuff that's more in the fantasy/paranormal genre. "

Dani, you are most welcome !
Kalogridis has written a couple of Corrag type books, you just have to hunt for the lol
It really is a wonderful book..warning - get a box of Kleenex ;)

Great idea for a thred, Dan. Hah, my A-Z just got a whole lotta help. This Corrag sounds amazing, Emilia...you had me at hills of Scotland....

Chris wrote: "Have you read the Dresden Files? Definitely UF, but hilarious! Storm Front The MC is a male, but definitely witch like with the mixing of potions and spells and dealing with the supern..."

Yes!
It was a bit of touch and go for me because I wasn't really impressed after books 1+2 but I absolutely adore the character Harry so I continued and am now at book 5 and liking it very much - particularly the magic system in this series. So good call, Chris :-)

Zaara wrote: "Great idea for a thred, Dan. Hah, my A-Z just got a whole lotta help. This Corrag sounds amazing, Emilia...you had me at hills of Scotland...."

Yes! I'm definitely gonna try this book first of all the great suggestions I got so far. That is to say, as soon as I have book buying money again haha.
I looked on amazon and read the available pages - the prose is beautiful.

Emelia wrote: Kalogridis has written a couple of Corrag type books, you just have to hunt for the lol
It really is a wonderful book..warning - get a box of Kleenex ;) "

Oh dear... And I'm such a cry baby too so I guess I'll need to buy extra haha.

Jess wrote: "Try The Witches of Eileanan.
Not YA. Epic fantasy. Has dragons too. Ive only read the first but it was good!"

As it turns out, this one was already in my TBR and I love dragons (almost as much as Niki in fact), so I'm definitely going to give this a giant bump up the pile. Thanks Jess!

Sha wrote: "Everything else that comes to my mind seems to be YA or nonexistant. Yikes. I really need to read more witchy books."

Haha, that's why I appealed to all of you guys - it's a challenge to find something that falls into the 'category' I'm looking for.
But I'll check out all your suggestions nonetheless; for starters, the Innkeeper chronicles look intriguing! :-)

The Crucible is a play about witchcraft. It is based off of real people.

Dani wrote: "Hi all,
I am looking for a great fantasy read that is about witches or features witchcraft in a prominent way BUT doesn't focus heavily on romance, isn't downright horror or urban fantasy and most..."
I have written two novels set in medieval Scotland that have witchcraft as a theme, thoroughly researched.
Celtic Blood
Sword and the Thistle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggy-p...
I would also like to recommend The Crucible, and the film The Vitch by Robert Eggers.
Also, the outstanding, Time of the Unicorn

I know another great book along those lines.
The Scarlet Letter

Some great titles here. I'll add them to my TBR. :)